Rania Totsika

PINK DOLPHIN

Ceramicist

©Giorgos Vitsaropoulos

Stepping forwards with freedom to handcraft

Rania makes geometric cups, moulds and vases using clay, stoneware and porcelain
She opened her ceramics workshop in 2017, leaving behind a career in architecture
Her pieces narrate stories of change and transformation

Rania Totsika creates ceramic pieces that take on different textures and forms, inspired by her background in architecture. She was introduced to ceramics, and particularly to slip casting porcelain, while pursuing a master’s degree in social design at the Design Academy in Eindhoven. “Working with moulds allows me to build complex structures from simple shapes, much like an analogue copying and pasting method. This approach, combined with my creative process, brings both structure and fluidity to my work,” Rania says. She loves exploring different material combinations, including clays, glazes, slips and more. Ceramics allows her to continuously learn, evolve and be creative. “I enjoy the freedom of switching roles from designer to craftswoman, as well as the endless discovery of how materials interact,” Rania explains.

Interview

©Giorgos Vitsaropoulos

©Giorgos Vitsaropoulos

Why did you choose ceramics?: I realised I wanted to work with my hands in my very first workshop with Frans Ottink. I started out with a simple cube of plaster and was fascinated by the process of sculpting my own cup. I felt fully captivated watching the material gradually transform into an object.
How did your practice begin?: My journey as a ceramicist began when I opened my workshop, Pink Dolphin, in 2017. It was a time of personal reinvention, as I was faced with the dilemma of either working as an architect, or following an entirely new path as a ceramicist. I feel like I still work as an architect, but in a more open, hands-on way.
Do you use any specific techniques?: I work with a variety of techniques, such as slip casting, slab building, coiling, pinching and wheel throwing. I view each technique as a tool whose usage I am dedicated to mastering. At times, I also challenge myself to work with techniques I am less confident with to push my boundaries and improve my skills.
What is something that people do not know about your work?: Most of my designs reveal a story. One of my cups features a change in texture on its surface, which symbolises how my perception of space evolved after my studies in architecture. Moving forward, I find it interesting to challenge myself with designing a cup that reflects how ceramics has transformed me further.

Rania Totsika is a rising star: she began her career in 2017 and she started teaching in 2017