Today on our blog, we are sharing an interview that the magazine Tu Reforma conducted with María Jesús Ten and Salvador Negre. Both are key figures at Art Antic l’Alcora.
Art Antic l'Alcora: "Combining craftsmanship and innovation is a special and spectacular blend."
Entrepreneurial woman, creative, and with very clear ideas: María Jesús Ten. She forms the perfect team with Salvador Negre, an artisan by profession and at heart. Hands with experience and a restless mind. Two key figures in Art Antic l’ Alcora, dedicated to the manual and artisanal production of artistic ceramic products since 1999.
What do you think craftsmanship brings to modern interior design?
It adds personality, uniqueness, and exclusivity. In a society where originality is increasingly difficult to achieve – it seems like everything has been done before – including unique pieces in a space achieves a differentiating factor that other standard decorative products cannot achieve.
At Art Antic l' Alcora, we work on a made-to-order basis. Each project is unique and different, which is why our ceramic pieces can be customized in terms of size, color, texture, and shape; and this is possible thanks to our handcrafted manufacturing processes.
Often, you describe your products as cutting-edge, handcrafted tiles. What exactly do you mean by that? At first glance, these are two somewhat opposing concepts.
These may seem like two concepts that initially clash, but the key is to leverage that "collision" to fuse them rather than to cause them to "break." Combining craftsmanship and innovation is a special and spectacular blend as a creative concept, and at Art Antic l' Alcora, we work under that premise.
The fusion of a concept that combines tradition, manual processes, and personalization, while embracing the latest trends and drawing inspiration from the most current designs. This requires us to stay up-to-date with interior design and decorative trends, and to be able to translate those concepts through artisanal techniques.
Craftsmanship and avant-garde... in that case, is that where the true value of Art Antic lies?
The value of Art Antic lies in the authenticity and genuineness of the product. Knowing that the handmade tiles that will be part of a project are not found anywhere else, that each and every piece that makes up a mural, a wall, a bar, bathrooms, etc., have been designed and painted exclusively for that project, with a human touch behind them that is reflected in the quality of the details and the final result.
That authenticity, quality, and personalization of your ceramic pieces have led you to work with renowned interior designers worldwide. Could you have imagined that 20 years ago?
We have always believed in and trusted the value of handcrafted products. In our early days, during difficult times, we only relied on being able to make a living through this product, and we dreamed of seeing our tiles featured in magazine covers and articles, but we never thought it could become a reality. It hasn't been an easy path, but it has been very rewarding on a personal and professional level.
The truth is, it's a genuine honor that professionals of this level rely on us for many of their projects.
What are your highlights from 2019? And what do you wish for in 2020?
2019 has been a year in which many projects that we had been working on for months have materialized and come to fruition. For us, it is very rewarding to see the result of our effort and work, and to witness the reception and media coverage of the projects we have been a part of.
Furthermore, 2019 has opened doors for us to many other projects in which we are currently involved, and which are giving us the opportunity to participate in very interesting projects about which we cannot yet say anything, but which we hope will begin to come to fruition in the coming months.
It has been a year of hard work and effort, which we hope will be rewarded with recognition and mentions for our collaborating interior designers and all the clients who trust us with their projects, which for us is already a complete success.
In 2020, we asked to continue experimenting. To feel, dream, think, and create. It may sound cliché, but we are passionate about what we do, so we simply ask to continue keeping the craftsmanship of Art Antic l'Alcora alive.
