Ceramics
ŻAR
• /ʐar/ • polish •
(noun) extreme heat, embers.
What’s required to turn clay, a natural soil material, into ceramic, that even if smashed, will last forever. What changes that which comes from the earth into something that has been part of our culture for centuries and ties us to the civilizations that came before us.
Play Video
I started doing ceramics 2 years ago at a Kraków studio ATO Pracownia. I was at a point in my life where I felt the need to create, and do something that will require me to use my hands and ground me in the physical word to balance out all that was going on in my head.
This isn’t always a conscious choice in the moment; rather, looking back at what I've created, I notice the patterns – browns, blues, bowls, mugs, slipcasted sets or handbuilt one-offs.
I’m still learning, fascinated by new techniques I have yet to try and effects they can bring. I’ve realized there is no end goal, no specific and consistent aesthetic I strive to achieve. Instead, I go through periods where certain colours, techniques, or shapes appeal more to me.
I try to trust the process and give into my instincts. I know that my art style and aesthetic will always evolve, just like myself and the world around me.
Nowadays, I’m focused on experimenting with hand building and carving. A few months ago, I've discovered my love for sculpting, which forces me to slow down and be in the moment – what doing pottery was all about in the start.
I have never made 2 identical pieces.
At the glazing stage, rather than solid colors, I reach for the glazes that are dimensional and unpredictable – so even if I tried, I could never make an exact replica.
To ensure each piece is unique when slip casting, I often experiment with pigments to decorate outer surfaces in a way that cannot be replicated.
Ceramics Gallery
