On a very hot August day, we arrived at Cynthia and Nicolas’s atelier in Seravezza, nestled between the slopes of the Apuan Alps and the Versilia plain.

Despite meeting for the first time it feels like we visit old friends. Their openess, warmth and hospitality shows that they are used to welcome guests from all over the world since they made this place their home and work base twenty-five years ago.

Whether they’re colleagues, villagers, or people passing by, everyone seems to be struck anew by the giant machines and massive marble stones reflecting the Tuscan sun in this historical building. Both in their seventies now, the acclaimed artists founded Artco, their workshop and common practice, in 1998, where they producea mind-blowing range of work, from small objects to 40-ton sculptures. Next to their own practice they created the Arkad Foundation in 2002 to promote and support other artists in the field.

Cynthia was born in Hong Kong and grew up between Japan and Taiwan leaving early to study in New York, while Nicolas grew up in France and began his career as an architect. For both, the love for stone came instantly upon first approaching it at work. After discovering the quarries, there was no turning back: they dedicated their lives to their love for marble and creating.

We were fortunate enough to spend two days with them in their home and atelier, where we learned a lot about craft, creativity, partnership and life. The interview was a continuation of our discussion, held in their conference room, which serves as a space between the gallery, their office, and their home in this beautiful building where their lives are intertwined.

*轉載摘錄自《PRESENT》Issue 3, P.1-20  (2023)