Taming function for artistic pursuits
- Karin creates visual ceramic artworks
- She works on aesthetics and function
- She is an internationally-renowned ceramic artist
Born in Wuppertal and trained in Germany, Italy and England, Karin Putsch-Grassi lives in Tuscany, where she founded her studio. Karin combines in her work the various cultural contributions she has assimilated over the years in a very personal, original way. She is inspired by what surrounds us, landscapes and nature, shapes and lines, and also by what is inside us, such as moods and emotions. “All of reality and of daily life are moments in which concepts and ideas can be born.” Karin evolves in two parallel creative circles with her work. On the one hand, she explores aesthetic research and functionality of objects such as vessels, and, on the other hand, she carries out artistic and expressive research. This gave rise to her Figulinae series, which is currently at the centre of her work.
Interview
- What is your educational background in ceramics?
- My first step was attending the Art Institute of Florence, becoming Master of Art in Ceramics. Then, in 1991, I enrolled at Goldsmiths College in London and I still attend courses or workshops to keep myself up-to-date. A master who has followed me over time and whom I admire is John Colbeck.
- How do your different cultural backgrounds merge in your works?
- My Germanic roots influence the use of stoneware for its hardness and vitrification. My work is characterised by sharp and simple lines, definitely Nordic, while the use of colour comes from Italian culture. Through travels I became aware of the various cultures of ceramics, integrated into daily life, mostly in Asia.
- How do you combine tradition and innovation in your creations?
- I always start from a bowl, a symbol of the ceramic tradition, a container that I take to the next stage, deforming it with various techniques. Cutting, crushing, compressing and deforming are the cornerstones of my creations. My Figulinae series is the emblematic example of my creative concept.
- What was a memorable moment in your journey?
- My first solo exhibition in Kyoto, in the Kyoto Ceramic Art Association Gallery in 2016, after being artist in residence at the Shigaraki Ceramic Culture Park. I was impressed by the Asian world and ceramic culture. Since then, I have returned to Asia for exhibitions, conferences and festivals, on a yearly basis.
Karin Putsch-Grassi is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1981
Where
Karin Putsch-Grassi
