Connecting to nature
- Tina finds joy in experimenting with ceramics
- She studied at Athens School of Fine Arts
- She transforms common shapes into psychological expressions
Tina Karageorgi created her first art ceramics for her solo show in 2011, entitled The Forest. She loves everything about her craft, “From the feel of the material in my hands to the awe at the finished product”. She studied painting and ceramics at the Athens School of Fine Arts and when creating her objects, she likes to combine different disciplines. Tina believes that ceramic art is hard labour in every sense. “Giving "birth" to a concept is very different to having a commission; it is a process that takes a long time. Sometimes ideas lie for months in my books but my mind is wondering about them incessantly. In many cases, it takes many trials and much disappointment. Ceramics is whimsical to a big degree.”
Interview
- When did you decide to take up this craft?
- The first time I fell in love with ceramics I was five years old. It was the annual festival of ceramics at Maroussi, an area of Athens famous for the pottery workshops. The throwing of a vase was the most mesmerising thing my eyes had witnessed.
- How is your craft linked to where you are based?
- Being in Greece is fundamental because here ceramic art has existed since prehistoric times. Every time I seek inspiration and connection to my past I can visit a museum or take a walk in the centre of Athens and it is all there: the connection and the knowledge.
- Where do you draw inspiration from?
- From nature. I am attracted to the forms of flowers, the freedom of their shapes and their structures. Through these, I can express any thoughts and ideas. I am always amazed by the response of viewers. After all, we are all connected to nature; it is our habitat.
- What is your advice to young ceramicists?
- This is a love affair for life. You have to know its hardships. But you will never escape this love. The possibilities are endless and you will always be a student. You must be very persistent, which in turn brings great fulfilment.
Tina Karageorgi is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1985
Where
Tina Karageorgi
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