Born to be a ceramicist
- Martin focuses on large vessels
- He has refined the tradition of salt glazing
- He takes a sculptural approach
In the heart of the Westerwald lies Martin Goerg’s childhood playground: a clay mine. By spending his early years at his father’s clay mine and summers at his uncle’s ceramics workshop in southern Germany, Martin developed a unique connection to the material. “Ceramics sparked a deep passion within me that will last all my life,” he says. After finishing school, he pursued the traditional path of an artisan from apprentice to master, topped up with studies at the State College for Ceramic Design in Höhr-Grenzhausen. In 1990 he opened his own workshop in the town, where he still works today. Over the years, Martin has constantly reinterpreted and refined the ceramics traditions of his home region.
INTERVIEW
I focus on large vessels with salt glazing. During my studies I mastered the construction of large vessels with clay beads. The technique of salt glazing has been practised in my region since the Middle Ages and made the Westerwald stoneware world famous.
I became familiar with it during my apprenticeship, but I found the resulting ceramics not very interesting. By attending an international salt firing exhibition, I gained new inspirations and started experimenting with it. I continue to develop new salt fire surfaces today, and they continue to fascinate me.
Coming from traditional pottery, the vessel still fascinates me as a theme, but more and more I start to appreciate the three-dimensional nature of it: the sculpture. Thus, functionality increasingly takes a backseat.
Ceramics is a complex subject and requires sound knowledge and a lot of experience, so good training is important. Unfortunately, I feel there's been little interest in the craft recently, but I am feeling a change. There is still a lot of interest in ceramics in East Asia or Latin America.
Martin Goerg
Ceramicist
Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany
Recommended by Zentralverband des Deutschen Handwerks
AVAILABILITY
Monday to Friday 10:00-13:00 / 14:00-18:00; Saturday 10:00-14:00
PHONE
+49 26245953
LANGUAGES
German, French, English, Spanish
