The piece, which reinterprets the historic Vase of the Alhambra with a contemporary vision, will be part of the exhibition «Today’s Masters Meet Tomorrow’s Talents», organized by Homo Faber Fellowship at the Casa degli Artisti in Milan. This event attracted over 25,000 visitors last year, leading to long queues for entry.
The color palette of 'Luz de Andalucía' deviates from the traditional Úbeda green, opting for tones that evoke the golden stone of the Úbeda Renaissance, thus reinforcing the territorial identity of the work. Additionally, the piece incorporates symbolic details such as the coat of arms of Úbeda, the city's rooster, and hidden family names, inviting constant discovery.
“"Being able to work with my father and my grandfather has been a unique experience."
The participation in Milan is the result of six months of intensive work within the international Homo Faber Fellowship program, focused on the transmission of knowledge between master artisans and emerging talents. This project has had a unique family and emotional dimension, involving three generations from the same workshop, including Tito Martínez's grandfather.
“"This scholarship brings together 22 pairs from around the world, masters and emerging talents, and we have been fortunate to form a three-generation team. It has been a very special blend of emotions."
The piece was crafted entirely in the historic family workshop, using a centuries-old Arab wood-fired kiln, recovered by the family itself. The entirely manual process included over 26 hours of firing, which gives each work unique and unrepeatable nuances. Pablo Martínez emphasized the importance of this technique, stating that the Arab kiln provides an unparalleled essence.
The international projection of 'Luz de Andalucía' will not be limited to Milan. Tito Martínez announced that the work will also be exhibited in Copenhagen from June 10 to 13, marking the first time this exhibition travels to the Danish capital. Furthermore, pieces from the family workshop will be featured in an exhibition at the National Gallery in London. This journey positions Úbeda ceramics as an ambassador of Spanish craftsmanship in three of Europe's most important cultural capitals in just two months.
The Councillor for Crafts of the Úbeda City Council, Francisco Javier Lozano, highlighted the collective relevance of this achievement, noting that it is excellent news for Úbeda, the province of Jaén, and Spain. Lozano compared Homo Faber to «the Oscars of craftsmanship» and stressed that this international presence positions the city as a reference center. The artists themselves confirmed that the event organizers have recognized the unusual concentration of talent in Úbeda.
