Clay between folklore and fairy tale
- Polina creates nature-inspired utilitarian ceramics
- Working with clay helped heal her after a career burnout
- She uses her art to connect with her motherland, Ukraine
Polina makes whimsical, detailed ceramics deeply embedded in nature and folklore inspirations. Her first insight into the world of clay was the time she spent as an interior designer, where the traditional aspects of textures and forms slowly transformed her passion for nature into art. "After a career burnout, I felt healed by the physical and creative process of working with ceramics," she says. Polina's interest led her to host pottery classes, and she eventually opened her own studio. Her unique nature-inspired pieces, which feature forest spirits and ancient symbols, matched the the rich Ukrainian folklore and their neopagan traditions. In 2021, Polina left her beloved homeland and moved to Latvia, where she lives and practises her craft today.
Interview
- Where does your inspiration come from?
- The biggest influences on my aesthetics are nature, mythology, fairy tales and neopaganism. The challenge lies in uniting all my inspirations in a utilitarian art piece, that is magical, unique and distinguished from plain, mass-produced items.
- What distinguishes your pieces?
- I am driven by my own personal passions, and I turn my love for my craft into pieces. I do not seek to create what is trendy or popular. I translate my inner world into reality, and people can see and appreciate that.
- What is your favourite part of being a ceramic teacher?
- I love how crafts in general work wonders on people. My favourite part is when students who arrive in a bad mood get to leave relaxed and happy after expressing themselves through creation.
- Is there a message you hope to share through your teaching?
- I want to help people take their first step in life into the creative world. I show them that everybody can be creative, and it is not as complicated as they make it out to be. I want them to experience the power of creation.
Polina Krasavina is a master artisan: she began her career in 2010 and she started teaching in 2016
Works
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Polina Krasavina
