A ceramist talks to “P” concerning the “obvara” approach with which he participates within the well-known design exhibition in addition to about his path in ceramics
A a younger Cypriot ceramist participates along with his personal undertaking with the “1000 vases” group within the “Paris Artwork Design” exhibition in France, from April 5 to 7, 2024. That is Alexis Alexandrou, who walks on two paths, of structure and ceramics, and thru them he explores his creativity.
“P” contacted the one Cypriot who represents the island on this exhibition and he introduces us to the approach he makes use of for his distinctive works, as he talks about how ceramics got here into his life.
The trail of ceramics
Alexis Alexandrou says that ceramics entered his life within the final six years when he visited a ceramics exhibition which, as he shares with us, appears to have enchanted him. “I’ve studied structure however six years in the past I began taking ceramics lessons and doing so much with this sort of creation. I took lessons with varied ceramists, about 5 or 6, as a result of I needed to discover and be taught from their follow. I’ve participated and likewise attended varied workshops on the follow of ceramics in Cyprus and overseas. For instance, I’ve been to Italy for a workshop, whereas final 12 months I went to Santorini for 2 months, the place I used to be hosted by an amazing and famend pottery instructor, Andreas Makaris. Station for me, as his assistant I realized so much from this nice Greek ceramist. Afterwards, I returned again to Cyprus and took part in 16 workshops of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism on pottery, which had been held in my village, Kato Pyrgos.
Relating to the 2 paths he’s on, structure and ceramics, he says: “I imagine that structure helped me to grasp rather more concerning the type of ceramics, to have the ability to suppose and construction the three-dimensional perspective of the creation. Even when it comes to aesthetics, I believe it has influenced me”.
For 2 years now, he provides, he has been educating spinning on the Tochka Ceramics Studio situated within the previous city of Nicosia, whereas final December he introduced his works for the primary time in an exhibition. It’s famous that the workshops happen each Wednesday and Friday, from 17.00 to twenty.00, and are aimed toward adults.
“From the programs I train, I acknowledge that these days, within the ranges of hysteria and stress that run by way of every of us in our each day lives, ceramics works as a method out or as a type of psychotherapy. Folks come to the workshops with a longing to disconnect and distance themselves from what is occurring round them. It's a must create.”
The “Obvara” follow
Relating to his works and the follow he explores, Alexandrou factors out that they method a selected approach, particularly that it’s primarily based on a clay firing approach that has been used for the reason that twelfth century.
That is “Obvara”, also referred to as “Baltic raku”, which we’re advised has its roots someplace in Japanese Europe, primarily in Belarus, Estonia and Latvia. As he tells us, it’s a follow that primarily issues the way in which ceramics are fired, nonetheless it’s not used due to some particular use and performance of the ceramic impact. He provides, the “Obvara” vase shouldn’t be purely ornamental. “Mentioned to have religious overtones, potters believed the 'Obvara' approach protected them from evil spirits.”
Of the method, he says it’s “just like the method of 'raku' pottery. Primarily, what occurs is that the ceramic comes out of 850 levels Celsius and is immersed in a sure 'obvara' combination, which I make three days earlier than, after which it’s faraway from the combination and put in water to shortly cool the piece and to 'freeze'”. The one factor sure, he continues, is that “every ceramic is exclusive, since at every stage varied parameters such because the temperature of the oven, the room, the water and likewise the composition of the combination play an vital function”.
The results additionally created with this method are sometimes spectacular, he factors out, as a result of “they seek advice from animal and primitive varieties, the textures of nature. That’s, rocks, wooden, shells, rocks, and so forth.”
Discussing “obvara”, the creator tells us that “for me, it brings you nearer to your personal being, nature, the second it’s created but additionally whenever you see the outcome”. He even shares a quote from an amazing grasp of pottery, Daniil Pavelchuk from Minsk, who, referring to this follow comparatively not too long ago, stated: “Obvara ceramics come again to us from historic instances, bringing to our properties the traditional secrets and techniques awakening inside us deep-rooted instincts”.
