Aino Nebel
Ceramicist
Rheinsberg, Germany
Immersive porcelain in atmoshperic worlds
- Aino’s creative process is rooted in gravity and movement
- Her porcelain works feature burnout techniques
- She emphasises context over standalone objects
Aino Nebel came to ceramics through the search for self-dialogue. While studying at Burg Giebichenstein, she experimented with materials that allow for self-reflection and contemplation. Aino's early works employed fragile, intimate elements such as clothing, organic matter and even her own hair. During her sculpture studies in Dresden, she engaged with the city’s porcelain culture, working with stoneware and porcelain. Aino developed burnout techniques, in which her absorbent materials are burned away to preserve their structure, which is fragile yet enduring. "In shaping my forms, I am strongly influenced by gravity and bodily movements," she says. Living and working with her partner, ceramicist Tomasz Niedziółka, in Rheinsberg, Aino's personal and creative life naturally interweave, creating a cohesive whole.
INTERVIEW
Having autonomy, freedom and control over my focus is central to me. I need to be able to decide where my attention goes. Otherwise, material, form and meaning become disconnected, and both work and life lose their inner coherence.
An object must carry presence, complexity and subtility. If it remains silent, I do not keep it. True quality appears when the material has not only been skilfully handled, but also fully absorbed by its maker through practice, experience and thought.
Tomasz’s background in applied ceramics, wood firing and vessel making has given me new perspectives to explore. Our exchange is constant, our practices intersect naturally and we particularly enjoy developing exhibitions together with a spatial and scenographic approach.
My work thrives in context. The pieces become interactive, which creates connections. In recent years, my work has been exhibited in castles and monasteries. Through the overall spatial concept, I aim to create an atmosphere where visitors can quietly immerse themselves in a contemplative world.
