Pietrasanta, on the coast of Tuscany about halfway between Pisa and Le Specia, is renowned for its proximity to the same marble quarries from which Michelangelo was the first artist to source this material.
The quaint town of about 25,000 inhabitants has become a haven for artists, and Ołtarzewski, a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, has been a resident for over two decades.
The exceptional little town was for some decades home to the world-renowned Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj, who died in 2014.
Speaking of the late master, whose works are prominently displayed in public spaces from the Canary Wharf in London to Pompeii and Poland's historic city of Kraków, Ołtarzewski highlighted the camaraderie that exists among Pietrasanta's artists: "He treated me as a younger colleague."
Igor Mitoraj, pictured in 2005. Photo: PAP/Jacek Bednarczyk
Ołtarzewski, an environmental engineering graduate from the University of Opole in southern Poland, began his career in drawing and painting in the mid-1990s, but soon entered the realm of three-dimensional works.
He moved to Pietrasanta in 2003 and continued his education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara, immersing himself in the world of marble sculpture.
Since then, Ołtarzewski's sculptures have drawn collectors from around the globe.
His works, often carved from Carrara marble, exhibit a surprising lightness and delicacy, challenging the weight and solidity of the material itself. These sculptures, ranging from intricate "lace-like" forms to ephemeral shapes, convey a blend of classical sculpture and forms that evoke a realm of fantasy.
Photo: PAP/Sylwia Wysocka
The sculptor's process is a blend of artistic vision and physical labor. "Working in marble is hard and requires strength," Ołtarzewski explains, adding that he cycles regularly to keep fit.
"There are artists who send in designs of works—from New York City, Copenhagen or London—and then there are craftsmen here, a whole group of them, who bring these designs to life," he says. "I perform all the stages of work, from processing the marble block to the final polish."
From his studio with a view of the mountains which house the historic quarries, Ołtarzewski reflects on the challenges and inspirations of working with marble, a material that respects no rush.
Szymon Ołtarzewski. Photo: PAP/Sylwia Wysocka
"Marble teaches you great patience," he says, echoing the sentiment that haste pleases only the devil.
The Polish sculptor is one of a relatively small group of artists who personally go through every step of creating a marble work.
With the supply of marble in Tuscany estimated to last another 600 years, the tradition ought to continue well into the future.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP