Valentinos Charalambous

From Cyprus to Baghdad

• Valentinos has been a ceramicist and teacher since 1952
• He draws inspiration from everything around him
• His murals, sculptures and bowls are exhibited widely

Valentinos Charalambous is a legendary figure in the field of ceramics in Cyprus. Born in 1929, he followed in his father’s footsteps and took up pottery as a profession. He trained in the United Kingdom and later he was invited to organise the Ceramics Department at Baghdad’s Academy of Fine Arts, where he trained students for almost three decades. Valentinos has received numerous awards for his art and contribution to his craft. He divides his work into three themes: murals, three-dimensional sculptures and large wheel-thrown bowls. His work is recognised in international ceramic art world, defined by its Cypriot identity with clear influences from Middle Eastern cultures.

Interview

©Vassos Stylianou

©Vassos Stylianou

How long have you been a ceramicist?

I was born in 1929 into a family of potters in Famagusta and as a child I always played with clay at our family workshop. In 1951, I studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. I was trained by D. Billington and G. Harding-Green, and then by Bernard Leach in Cornwall.

What advice do you give your students?

For me ceramics is a way of life. I trained a large number of students at the College of Fine Arts in Baghdad for 28 years, from 1957 until 1985. I always advise young people not to follow the craft because they are out of other choices. They need to feel it in their heart.

How has your work been recognised?

My work has been exhibited both in Cyprus and abroad, and I have received a number of awards, such as Man of the Year 2011 by the American Biographical Institute, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2002 by the International Biographical Centre of Cambridge.

How would you define a "well made" piece?

A pot, a sculptural mural or any other creation should reflect the material it is made of and should be void of eccentricities. That’s why I consider the introduction of alien techniques, materials and ideas threatening to the true form of art.

Valentinos Charalambous is an : he began his career in 1952

Where