The Glint Variation collection by Ceramiche Refin is the latest addition to their REFIN DTS – Daring Art Explorations project, reflecting a synergy of art and ceramic expertise. Unveiled at Cersaie in Bologna, this collaboration with artist Quayola continues the journey that began with the original Glint installation at Milan’s Fuorisalone earlier this year. The Glint Variation collection explores how art and craftsmanship can intermingle, combining Quayola’s focus on light and geometry with Ceramiche Refin’s innovation in porcelain stoneware. Together, they have created a collection that transcends traditional ceramics, offering pieces that engage with light, space, and perception.
Sculpting Light and Geometry into Porcelain
At the heart of Glint Variation is a fascination with the interplay between light and complex geometry. Quayola drew inspiration from the natural ripples on the water’s surface, seeking to capture the fleeting effects of light in a lasting, physical form. This ambition required a novel approach to porcelain stoneware, where Refin’s team worked alongside Quayola to develop special ceramic molds that could reproduce intricate bas-relief structures. The result is a modular tile design that, while static in form, transforms under different lighting and viewing angles. Each piece seems to shift in appearance, revealing new layers and forms with every perspective, embodying a dynamic relationship between the material and its environment.
Modular Artistry: Flexibility Meets Exclusivity
Glint Variation offers two main formats: a 30x30cm tile in four designs and a single 30x60cm tile, both crafted in black-glazed porcelain with a distinctive 20mm thickness. The smaller tiles provide creative flexibility, allowing designers to assemble them into customized compositions for walls or other interior applications, offering a modular and artistic touch. The larger 30x60cm piece is part of a limited edition of only 99 units, each individually numbered and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. These limited pieces, designed as standalone artworks, embody the collection’s exclusivity and add a collectible element for those seeking something unique in their design projects.
Redefining Porcelain with Technology and Tradition
The creation of Glint Variation reflects a deliberate blend of modern technology and artisan tradition, core values in Ceramiche Refin’s approach. As Quayola puts it, Glint is more than a collection—it’s a research journey into how light interacts with complex forms, translated into stoneware. This journey required extensive testing, refinement, and collaboration between artist and artisans, where Refin’s commitment to innovative design pushed the boundaries of porcelain’s capabilities. The team’s willingness to adapt and innovate resulted in tiles that not only serve functional purposes but also provoke thought and engagement, encouraging a fresh perspective on everyday materials.
A New Chapter in Artistic Exploration for Interior Design
Ceramiche Refin’s Glint Variation stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and creative risk-taking. It also highlights the role of ceramics beyond traditional aesthetics, reimagining these materials as both functional and expressive art forms. The project exemplifies the REFIN DTS – Daring Art Explorations initiative, which aims to foster bold artistic partnerships annually under the guidance of curator Valentino Catricalà . As the first of its kind within the DTS series, Glint Variation sets a high standard for future collaborations, demonstrating how ceramics can bridge the gap between contemporary art and architecture to bring truly immersive experiences into residential and commercial spaces alike.
With Glint Variation, Ceramiche Refin invites designers and homeowners to consider ceramics not just as building materials but as vessels of light, geometry, and artistic expression—a convergence of the real and abstract, shaped by both nature and human ingenuity.
