Summoned by clay
- Mateja specialises in throwing ceramics on the wheel
- Wood-firing has become the backbone of her aesthetic
- She is self-taught and refined her techniques over years of practice
Mateja Kapun Zajec discovered clay while working as a sociologist. Drawn to the tactile and timeless nature of the material, she was fascinated by how the imprint of hands can be forever preserved in clay. Mateja started working on the potter's wheel in her garage, while watching videos of renowned ceramic masters, and taught herself through trial and error. Later, she apprenticed with master artisan Ines Kovačič, who mentored her and closely followed her development over the years. Mateja has since expanded her skills through numerous workshops across Europe and online classes. "The textures and forms of natural materials are a constant source of inspiration for me. Research is an important part of my process," she says.
INTERVIEW
The opportunity to leave the imprint of my hands on an ancient material and create a new object is very important to me. For me, working with clay represents freedom. It is the counterbalance to the traditional upbringing I received and the rigidity of my previous career.
The first piece I made was a shallow bowl, but I made it without any prior experience. It was my first time at the potter's wheel and I made a mistake at every step. Nevertheless, I felt an overwhelming urge to begin again, and do it differently and better.
In recent years, I have focused on wood-firing ceramics, which is a technique in which ash and fire create a unique marks on the objects. The development of my practice has been influenced by following the wood-firing tradition.
A few years ago, I opened my studio in the old town of Ljubljana to visitors, so they could see how ceramics are made. I felt immense joy and gratitude when customers began returning to tell me how much they loved my cups and pots, and how they used them every day.
