Rasa Justaitė-Gecevičienė

Ceramicist

©Arvydas Gudas

©Ula Geceviciute

The alchemy of ceramics

Rasa uses items from her kitchen to help create her ceramic pieces
Her main source of inspiration is the constant renewal of nature
She is head of the ceramics department at Vilnius Academy of Arts

In her teenage years, Rasa Justaitė-Gecevičienė turned her back on chemistry and mathematics, choosing ceramics instead. However, her studies did not only provide the basics of composition and art, but also immersed her in the subtleties of ceramic technology. An alchemic process, pottery requires both formulas and calculations – all of which she once ran away from, but now finds great pleasure in. Creating exhibition works and artistic sculptural objects for interior design, Rasa's works always have an unexpected and unique perspective: recognisable household objects or natural forms turn into fantastic ceramic works. By skilfully combining different materials, Rasa invites us to observe, to touch, or sometimes to take a walk within a landscape of emotions.

Interview

©Ula Geceviciute

©Ula Geceviciute

What fascinates you most about ceramics?: A special formula can be applied to it: alchemy plus a long and patient work process equals ceramic creation. Also, I put a lot of emphasis on craftsmanship and the quality of the finished piece.
How do tradition and innovation influence your work?: I like to combine different techniques: traditional (moulding, ringing) with innovative (laser decals, combining clay with textiles, glass, metal, stone). I also like to turn various modern objects into clay objects, thus changing their meaning. In this way, objects of the modern world become ceramic works.
What inspires you to create?: The main focus of my work is interpreting plants and the perpetual motion of nature. Every single thing in nature is like a separate landscape. I create my ‘landscapes’ using coloured clay masses and glazes and applying various decoration techniques. I encrust ceramics into stone, wood and metal in an original way.
Do you use any unique techniques?: I mostly use plaster moulds I make myself. For that I use various plants (often home-grown) or household items I find in my kitchen (silicone ice cube and cupcake moulds, etc). These shapes are not easy to mould, especially if the item has an expiry date or is complex in structure, so I have developed my own techniques.

Rasa Justaitė-Gecevičienė is a master artisan: she began her career in 1996 and she started teaching in 2002