Katia Terpigoreva

Multimedia sculptor | La Capelle-Balaguier, France

Knitting with porcelain

Katia combines porcelain and natural fibres in her artworks
Becoming a craftswoman is her second career
The knitted parts provide structure and chiaroscuro to her pieces

For Katia Terpigoreva, becoming an artist was not an option in Post-Soviet Russia, so although it had been her dream to do so, she worked as a journalist in design and architecture instead. When she moved to France in 2010, everything changed. With a garden and plenty of raw materials at her disposal, Katia had a sudden burst of creativity, fuelled by the encounter with master ceramicist Thierry Breuvart, who taught her to make porcelain. Over time, Katia evolved her practice into a multimedia artform by combining different crafts and materials to create sculptures, installations and jewellery pieces, in which porcelain intertwines with knitted fibres. “Porcelain alone may look static and icy. In order to make it fluid, lively and vibrant, I have become an embroiderer, knitter and tapestry-maker, too,” explains Katia.

Interview

©Katia Terpigoreva

©Katia Terpigoreva

Which materials do you use in your work?: Porcelain, primarily. I also use mercerised cotton, silk and linen threads, carded wool and a very thin metallic wire. All these threads are not flamboyant in themselves, but when they are hit by the light, they become bright and shiny – in one word, precious.
Do you use any special techniques for your porcelain making?: I invented my own technique, which consists of embalming wool with kaolin to create ultra-light and translucent volumes. When you soak wool in liquid porcelain, the latter drips downward and forms a sort of thin-skinned cocoon, which crystallises when fired at high temperature. The resulting porcelain is vibrant and fragile: it has the same texture as dead leaves.
How does knitting come into your proces?: I create elements with different knitting techniques from French bobbin knitting to crochet. They provide support as well as chiaroscuro effects. I enjoy creatively assembling all these separate elements and finding their harmony.
Which role do Russia and France play in your artistic path?: I grew up in Russia with my mother and my grandmother, who were always knitting, embroidering, sewing. From them, I learned that even the most humble materials can be ennobled through creativity. As for France, it is my promised land of artistic growth and expression. The French countryside, where I live, is another major source of inspiration for me.

Katia Terpigoreva is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2015