A dedication to the composition of everyday materials identifies her practice, intertwining the cultural background they carry, as well as their environmental impact. To research & design becomes a way to learn craftsmanship, retrace tradition, and share knowledge by thinking and acting in an interdisciplinary way.
Dordrecht Museum (The Netherlands)
"In Bones We Dwell and For Yours We Wait" presents a collection of porcelain pieces designed by Bruno Baietto that revive the original recipe for bone china—a type of porcelain traditionally crafted using bone as a key ingredient. Historically associated with luxury, bone china has been prized since its creation in England in the mid-18th century for its white, thin, and highly flexible nature, with its components often being of significant value. It typically includes at least 40% cow bone ash in its composition, which adds workability and gives it a recognizable milky translucent colour.
The bone material from the Dordrechts Museum's archaeological archive has been incorporated into the traditional recipe. The archaeological findings are calcined and utilized as a component to produce the porcelain. The result challenges the qualities of the original recipe, questioning the luxury status of a material built on whiteness and stability, and delivers a new porcelain material with a sandy quality and unexpected behaviour.
By transforming forgotten and unused bones into a durable material, this project aims to initiate discussions on the enduring relevance of Tussenbroek's paintings, the starting point for Bruno Baietto’s commission, and his exploration of death as a creative impulse. In the Baietto’s words the project “underscores how, throughout the 20th century, our interaction with the deceased and their remains has remained concealed yet undeniably present, especially in a post-COVID era.”