Surrealism fresh out of the kiln
- Mariana and Ricardo create abstract and conceptual ceramic pieces
- Both come from the world of advertising, and Mariana trained with María de Andrés
- Pop culture is the main influence for their work
The studio Nohaymapas is a Spanish-Mexican duo of ceramicists navigating between art, design, and craftsmanship. Mariana Montero, born in Mexico City, dedicates herself full-time to ceramics. She studied and worked in communications, advertising, and graphic design, but her real calling was in the visual arts. Ricardo Rovira, a multidisciplinary artist, studied Fine Arts at the Complutense University of Madrid. Since 2006, he has been creative and artistic director at an advertising agency. “Ceramics are an organic material that connects us to the Earth. It is a form of alchemy, as it requires the four elements plus the human touch to create a piece,” says Mariana. “I am captivated by the chemical and physical processes that transform the clay, the patience and meticulousness we must dedicate, and the respect we must have for the techniques," she develops. The duo work together on all stages of their creations, from ideation to glazing. "The entire process leaves us with countless lessons, mainly about ourselves,” says Ricardo.
Interview
- What is clay for you?
- Mariana: Beyond the technical knowledge, working with clay has so many personal benefits that I think it is very enriching for anyone. I like to share my passion for ceramics. Seeing my students each week, listening to their ideas, and watching how they evolve in each class fills me with satisfaction.
- What is your creative process?
- Mariana: Abstraction and conceptualisation. When we want to communicate an idea, whether as a question or an affirmation, we have the ability to capture it in an image and from there into a three-dimensional form. Perhaps this ability to summarise an idea into an image comes from our background in creative advertising.
- What other arts influence your work?
- Mariana: I love music, cinema and literature. Sometimes we like to reference pop culture icons. The surrealist movement is probably our greatest inspiration. We are very interested in physics and astronomy, but also in philosophy and the occult sciences. When we design a piece, our hobbies and interests merge.
- How have Mexico or Spain influenced your work?
- Mariana: Nohaymapas is a name suggesting volatility. It is from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. I am a Mexican living in Spain and have been an immigrant in two other countries, so I believe is about not identifying with just one place. In fact, much of the theme of our work is set outside planet Earth.
Mariana Montero & Ricardo Rovira are master artisans: they began their career in 2016 and they started teaching in 2018
Where
Mariana Montero & Ricardo Rovira
