Déborah Abizanda

Communicating through ceramics

• Déborah enjoys contact and exchanges with people
• Time, patience and care are the key ingredients of her work
• Her first professional piece was a teapot

Journalist turned ceramicist, Déborah Abizanda Cañizares decided ten years ago to transform her childhood pastime into a profession. After completing formal courses, she trained as an apprentice before opening her own workshop in Madrid four years ago, in the Lavapies district, where she sells her own creations, besides hosting training courses. She generally makes porcelain items and one-of-a-kind pieces, modelling and sculpting, inspired by the Spanish tradition of ceramics, taking pride in it, while expressing through her work a contemporary outlook. She sources her raw material, clay mainly in the Valencia area which creates a deep connection with her home country. Her hands are her tools, to slowly create objects with patience and passion, and her vision is to make something tangible, in contrast to the speed of technology.

Interview

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©José Antonio Pedraza

How would you define what you do?

My ceramic creations are handmade, in limited editions. I also make one-of-a-kind artistic items. What I most enjoy is to create; to be able to translate an abstract concept or idea into something that is tangible. To me this is a means of expression and communication; all forms of art and crafts are communication.

What is your idea of beauty?

Beauty to me is honesty and transparency. Through ceramics I can share and convey my vision, and create a democratic kind of art, that can reach anybody and where beauty is my contribution to leave something good to the world.

Which are your sources of inspiration?

My inspiration comes from Art Nouveau, Nordic designs and Japanese art and culture. My first item with a professional finishing was a turquoise bowl, inspired by the hair styles of Japanese women wearing their kimonos or yukata. I am also intrigued by ordinary objects and how they can be transformed.

What does well made mean to you?

From a functional outlook it has to meet a certain amount of technical and quality standards. From an artistic point of view, well made has to convey an emotion. Excellence isfound in the combination of the above, and in how people and objects find a way to communicate.

Déborah Abizanda is a master artisan: she began her career in 2010 and she started teaching in 2016

Works

©José Antonio Pedraza

©José Antonio Pedraza

©Déborah Abizanda

©Déborah Abizanda

©Déborah Abizanda

Where

Experiences

Weekly ceramic lessons in Madrid

2 Hours

92 EUR