A game of chance
- Emilia prefers simpler forms and symbolism
- She spent time studying art in Porto
- She fell in love with ceramics as a child
When Emilia Emileva's parents bought a cottage in the picturesque Troyan Balkan, inadvertently they set up their daughter’s artistic path. The young Emilia became infatuated with visiting the local ceramics manufacturer where her neighbour was a decorator. She soaked in the aroma of clay and glaze, the strange and magical smell of colloidal gold, the heat of the furnaces, the humidity. Emilia enrolled in the Art School of Troyan and transitioned to the National Academy of Arts in Sofia. Her ceramic pieces are vibrant and full of delicate milky colours and imagination. Sometimes they directly lead to an existing form, like the Banana series, or gently walk one through a story. Emilia loves experimenting with various materials, but recently porcelain is her chosen one.
Interview
- What has influenced your art the most?
- Continuing my studies in Porto. The minimalist work of Alvaro Siza. Having the good fortune to meet Júlio Resende - perhaps the most lyrical and powerful Portuguese artist. My professors at the Portuguese academy for giving me courage, freedom and faith.
- What do you have in your atelier?
- The furnace with which I have a special relationship - I talk to her, caress her and truly love her. Two favourite knives I work with all the time - one is from my father, and the other is from a very beloved friend and colleague. I appreciate tools and objects.
- How do you know a new project is going well?
- There is always a special "feeling" which passes through me. The Singing Blackbirds, for example, when I first heard them sing, I fell in love immediately with them. Then everything just happened and transformed logically into an art piece.
- How do you replenish your creativity?
- Being in nature. Bird song and communication with animals helps me a lot. Meeting colleagues and friends. Music - one of the strongest influences for setting up the mood.
Emilia Emileva is a master artisan: she began her career in 2000 and she started teaching in 2012
Works
Where
Emilia Emileva
