Eugenio Tavolara Biography
Eugenio Tavolara (1901 - 1963), born in Sassari in 1901, was a painter, sculptor, ceramist, designer and manufacturer of toys, carpets and baskets. He was an unusual and original artist on the Italian scene between the first and second post-war years. Tavolara continued his artistic experience on his own, dedicating himself to sculpture, painting and the creation of puppets, which undoubtedly represent the most characteristic aspect of his work, especially those inspired by characters from the agro-pastoral and urban world of Sardinia. His production included clowns, animals, Pinocchio and other fairy-tale characters among the most popular subjects. His tireless activity as an organizer and renewer of Sardinian craftsmanship themes is also fundamental. Through ingenious work and the desire to revive a spontaneous popular art, Tavolara contributes to the recovery of those peculiarities of the island's artistic craftsmanship, from baskets to carpets, which risked being irremediably lost. He participated in exhibitions of the highest level; he obtained important recognition and deserved the attention of specialized magazines such as Domus.1
