Nina Mrđenović & Jošt Bukovec

Shrusko

Ceramicist

©Shrusko

Illustrated ceramics

Nina and Jošt founded Shruško together
They complement each other, mastering different techniques
Their story began eight years ago, when they found a ceramic kiln

Nina Mrđenović and Jošt Bukovec are the names behind the Shruško brand, which literally translates as “with the pear”. The reason for this brand name is simple: the idea came, while they were eating a sweet juicy pear, which is now the logo imprinted at the bottom of their products. Their pieces are handmade, by carefully assembling clay slabs. In this phase, they work together and pass the products to each other, as each takes care of a certain technique. Nina then draws the illustrations, and the wheel throwing is Jošt's task. Their story began eight years ago, when they came across a ceramic kiln by accident. They gained knowledge from renowned Slovenian potters, Karlo and Marta Pavlinc. In their workshop, they love experimenting by combining different techniques.

Interview

©Shrusko

©Shrusko

Why did you choose this career?: Nina: We share a passion for creating things with our hands. Eight years ago, we came across a ceramic kiln and had no idea what the ceramic scene was like. After the initial shock, we quickly gained enough knowledge and in 2015 our brand was born.
Do you master any specific techniques?: Jošt: We use a lot of different techniques. On a cup, for example, you can see different textures, homogeneous colour layers, pencil and brush strokes, some drops, glazed and unglazed surfaces. We combine techniques thoughtfully so that each retains its weight and doesn't create a mess, but contributes to the story.
What are your sources of inspiration?: Nina: Numerous things inspire us: folk art, children's drawings, high school graffiti, the work of other ceramicists, art history, contemporary art and practical solutions in everyday life. This really drives us to create, which manifests itself as the search for the shortest and fastest path to the studio.
What is less known about your work?: Jošt: Ceramics is an eternal material. With a careful owner, it can be part of a lifelong collection that can be passed on to the next generations.

Nina Mrđenović & Jošt Bukovec are expert artisans: they began their career in 2015 and they started teaching in 2020