Miniatures: craftsman from Alagoas has been a reference in works with meticulous details Alagoas artisan Cláudio Henrique Freire da Silva, aged 33, draws attention to the delicacy of the ceramic miniatures he produces. Born in Capela and resident of Pilar, he creates sculptures that, in most cases, are up to 2 centimeters high. (Watch above) Some are even smaller and reach the size of a grain of rice. In the pieces, he reproduces scenes from everyday life in the Northeast and games that marked his own childhood. Known as "Cláudio das Miniaturas", he began to be interested in art when he was still a teenager. Nephew of master João das Alagoas, Living Heritage of the State, he spent years watching his uncle work, but shyness prevented him from asking to learn the trade. Ceramic miniatures the size of a grain of rice. Reproduction/ TV Asa Branca Alagoas "I watched through the window, but I never had the courage to ask to learn," he said in an interview with TV Asa Branca Alagoas. The opportunity arose when he started to help the master in preparing the clay. Over time, he learned modeling techniques and began producing his own pieces, initially in larger sizes. Matchstick inspiration The search for an artistic identity led Cláudio to experiment with new formats. In 2011, during an exhibition of nativity scenes in Maceió, he was inspired by sculptures made with matchsticks and decided to test the technique in clay, increasingly reducing the size of the works. The bet paid off. The miniatures began to be sought after by admirers and today portray rural workers, retreatants and popular games, such as playing ximbra, spinning tops and flying kites. "These are memories from my childhood that I can express through art," he said. International success Clay technique by the Alagoas artisan "Cláudio das Miniaturas". Reproduction/ TV Asa Branca Alagoas The sculptures, rich in detail despite their small dimensions, have already participated in exhibitions and reached countries such as China, England and Russia, expanding the scope of the work developed in the interior of Alagoas. READ ALSO: From clay to the world: Capela artisans transform tradition into livelihood and cultural identity in AL Craftsman turns matchsticks into sculptures and has already taken art from Alagoas to the world Family work Craftsmanship has also become a family activity. His wife, Jéssica Carolayne Lourenço, helps with painting and assembling the pieces, while his son Pedro Henrique, aged 6, closely follows the studio routine. "It's very rewarding to be able to help and survive from clay", said Jéssica. Between modeling, painting and burning the pieces, Cláudio dedicates more than 12 hours a day to the craft. For him, each miniature is a way of preserving memories and telling stories. "I'm a storyteller. I can build my story through clay, not on paper, but through the dough made with clay", he declared. Artisan from Alagoas Cláudio Henrique Freire da Silva, 33 years old. Reproduction/ TV Asa Branca Alagoas