Traditional ceramics with a twist
- Svitlana co-founded 8 Komora with Ivan Kozik in 2014
- She studied decorative applied arts and design
- Their work reflects their feelings and experiences
From the early days, Svitlana Sholomitska was surrounded by artisans. Her grandfather carved the portraits on the gravestones, her father was a graphic designer. That in some way led the way for Svitlana to become an artisan herself. Currently, she is among the brightest stars of the modern Ukrainian ceramics movement creating imaginative, transformative objects that transcend the notions of tradition and contemporaneity. Along with Ivan Kozik, she is a co-founder of the 8 Komora brand that not only produces ceramics but is also engaged in upcycling and silkscreen printing. The latter has recently become a lifeline when the studio found itself impacted by the war in the country. As the ceramic materials supply chain was disrupted, they turned to graphics.
INTERVIEW
Svitlana: Ceramics is an extremely widespread Ukrainian decorative and applied art. My education gave me the philosophy of the so-called Mykhailo Boychuk's school and its modern aesthetics. I try to reinterpret it in my own way using feelings and experience.
Svitlana: I use many skills but it’s always a process of development. The line between techniques is really blurred, so the important objective is to keep doing. If I would define my personal techniques it would be hand modelling and pottery crafting.
Svitlana: It’s really hard to think about one single moment that defined my work. There were definitely many small steps. In fact, the artisan’s professional journey is along and tedious one. It’s working and learning, making mistakes and trying again.
Svitlana: Like millions of my ancestors, I am working on a mechanical potter's wheel. But the chemical industry itself gives us a lot of decorative opportunities in pigments and glazes.
