Creating with earth and fire
- Guðbjörg uses volcanic ash in her clay
- Throwing is for her a form of meditation
- She helped establish a pottery in Sierra Leone
Ceramicist Guðbjörg Káradóttir gives diners an extra layer to their culinary experience by creating carefully crafted tableware. Guðbjörg studied at the Icelandic Academy of Arts and also spent two years working at the Glit ceramics factory in Reykjavik. Using her artistic skills and knowledge of small-scale production she established her business, Ker, to supply restaurants with well made artisanal products for food service. Inspired by the world around her, Guðbjörg draws inspiration from the atmosphere of the restaurants she designs for, producing bespoke pieces which reflect their style and vibe. She also uses the natural landscape of Iceland to inform her colour palette, incorporating volcanic ash into her pieces.
INTERVIEW
At 17 I studied in Norway for a year. There I did hand throwing on the wheel and I was enchanted by it. Afterwards I did everything I could to get to know the ceramics industry. Getting a job in a ceramics factory really helped me learn the trade.
Shortly after I graduated, I got the assignment of designing and producing tableware for a theatre and restaurant. I had to produce 400 pieces in five weeks and somehow made it work, with lots of sleepless nights of course!
I work mainly with stoneware and porcelain. I have developed a method for mixing volcanic ash from the Southern Peninsula region in Iceland into porcelain. The outcome has an interesting texture and colour which reflects the rock of where I live.
I volunteer in Sierra Leone for the foundation Aurora. There I have helped to establish a ceramics workshop and school called Lettie Stuart pottery. The project helps local potters, students and their communities to attain sustainable development.
