Simona Kaunaité

Ceramicist

©Andrej Vasilenko

©Au Galybė

A master of unique tableware

Simona's dishes feature in restaurants and private homes
Her first encounter with clay didn't go well
Customers find her via word-of-mouth

The first time Simona Kaunaitė encountered clay, she decided she absolutely hated throwing. Despite that, she chose to study ceramics at the Vilnius Arts Academy. These days her thrown pottery can be found in the most interesting and unique Lithuanian restaurants. Her pieces are immediately recognisable: often matte, with a slightly porous surface. Tableware intended for restaurants has special requirements: it must be very durable, and less likely to show fingerprints; Simona therefore creates her plates and dishes from porcelain and high-fired stoneware. However, her work is also sought after by private clients who want to give their home a touch of exclusivity.

Interview

©Andrej Vasilenko

©Andrej Vasilenko

What do you like most about ceramics?: In ceramics you can do anything, from jewellery to sculptures, or anything else the heart desires. I like the repetitions I stumble upon, the craftsmanship, the technical aspects, as well as the ability to produce a quality product.
How do innovation and tradition entwine in your work?: Tradition is about 40 percent of my work. I like a lot of things from old ceramics. I am also fascinated by 20th century dishes, the shapes of the plates and their specific proportions. To an extent, I get inspiration from tradition.
What else inspires you?: The thing that inspires me the most is modern architecture. Abstract architectural forms, their proportions, the relation between heights and volumes, their compositions – all of this fascinates me.
When do you consider a piece to be well made?: I look at my pieces intuitively. Sometimes, I make a piece and feel that its proportions are off, that it is boring. For me, the piece is good when I intuitively feel that its proportions are good, that it has a good ratio of height to width.

Simona Kaunaité is a master artisan: she began her career in 2009 and she started teaching in 2000