What is most striking in Tommy Zen’s artworks is their extraordinary finish. This unique patina bestows a astonishing quality to his work and imparts an impression which is similar to the one we feel when meeting someone we know is out of the ordinary and unforgettable. Zen, whose Italian father was a cabinet-maker – a technique that his family has been practicing for many generation – borrows the technique of furniture finishes from this ancestral craft.
He integrates oxidants on bronze, gold, and sliver leaf to his technique as was one done in the days of the Renaissance. He is also greatly inspired by the lacquers of ancient China. All of this is fused with the very spirit of his creations, one that stems from ancient civilization and prehistory. The result is a series of very impressive vases which invite prolonged and meditative viewing.
