Deividas Jotautis

Ceramicist

©Jonas Danielevičius

©Simas and Laima Bernotai

Tradition, an inexhaustible source of inspiration

Deividas has been in ceramics for three decades
He draws inspiration from traditional Lithuanian folk pottery
He was awarded the certificate of National Heritage for his creations

Deividas Jotautis is a passionate creator of traditional Lithuanian ceramics. For 30 years, he has been admiring the painted ornaments and forms that decorate classic Lithuanian ceramic cookware, finding a place for them in the contemporary world. After graduating from the Kaunas School of Applied Arts, he began working at the renowned Jiesia Fine Ceramics Factory in the household ceramics production workshop. It was there that he realised that the most important dimension for him in his work was creating items decorated with traditional Lithuanian ornaments. In 2013, Deividas' pieces were awarded the certificate of National Heritage Products. He participates in seminars and outdoor workshops in Lithuania and organises solo exhibitions of his works. He uses local raw materials to craft his ceramics.

Where

Interview

©Simas and Laima Bernotai

©Simas and Laima Bernotai

Why did you take up this craft?: I used to draw beautifully as a child, and I loved doing it. When I got more into different arts, I was most fascinated by ceramics. Ceramics charmed me because of the wide range of possibilities, the variety of techniques, and the prospect of a lifetime of learning, discovering, and experimenting.
Where did you learn ceramics?: I graduated in ceramics from Kaunas School of Applied Arts. After that, I worked for a long time in household ceramics production at the fine ceramics factory Jiesia. There I gained a lot of experience and knowledge about the potter's craft.
What do you like most about your craft?: What I love about my craft is seeing how I can combine three different elements to create beautiful pieces: clay, water and fire. Even though it is one of the oldest crafts on Earth, I can still discover and learn something new today, incredible discoveries, 'firsts' that motivate and encourage me to go deeper in the craft and to improve.
When do you decide that a piece is finished?: I decide that a piece is good when I see that its shape, decoration, lightness, functionality, and colour are all in harmony with each other and form a coherent whole.

Deividas Jotautis is a master artisan: he began his career in 1992 and he started teaching in 2014