Playing with clay
- Dmytro uses ancient techniques to create modern objects
- He is inspired by nature and new urban spaces
- He opened his ceramic studio in 2011
Dmytro Bilokin is a ceramicist based in one of the most famous Ukrainian spots for pottery, the Poltava region. He is one of the guardians of the ancient Opishnya school of ceramics (named after a little town in the region) and a student of master Yuri Mirko. “Ceramics is inexhaustible in its techniques, you simply cannot lose interest doing this occupation,” Dmytro says, expressing a passion for the craft. In his work he doesn’t want to only be a bearer of the old traditions, Dmytro is also interested in innovating the techniques. Ever since his first year of university where he was introduced to ceramics, Dmytro carries a love for creating new things and successfully runs his own studio that has become well known in the Ukraine and abroad.
Interview
- What does ceramics mean to you?
- For me, ceramics is one of the ways to express myself as an artist. Turning to clay a natural ressource from Mother Nature, I create my own world. Ceramics can be described as a new realm as it lives on with each product for centuries.
- When is an object well made?
- For an object to be considered well made, it should give you an impression of a non-manufactured item. Another important aspect is the right combination of colours, proportions and textures. These are the features of a truly great object.
- What do people not normally know about your craft?
- From the outside, the process of creating ceramics looks rather simple. However, in order to achieve true mastery, it takes many years of training, patience and perseverance. Making great pottery without a true love for the craft is almost impossible.
- What do you like most about your craft?
- I like the versatility of ceramics, you can create anything from clay. No other artistic craft is full of so many possibilities. I also love the mystery. After all, it’s not only me who influences the results but also the elements of water, earth and fire.
Dmytro Bilokin is a master artisan: he began his career in 2006 and he started teaching in 2016
Where
Dmytro Bilokin
