Manos Kalamenios

The slips, cracks and nicks that punctuate the surface of all natural materials – even at micro level – are an intrinsic part of my practice. The tactility of a material, how it feels to touch and hold, is a key part of its overall character, informing just as much as its visual landscape; my work prioritieses this aspect of materiality. I feel that it is very important to let the material do the talking – to let it do what is best for it in the most simple way possible instead of forcing it to be something else. I aim always to be true to the material, listening to its voice and observing its personality. 

I have come to learn that the more you try to control a material the more it controls you. My practice now centres on freeing myself from the weight of being an omnipotent maker and instead allowing things to take their natural course. I see making as an exploration, something that feeds my soul. It is all about the journey and not the destination – it is the process and the making that interest me. I see myself as an alchemist, exploring the endless possibilities of materials; my practice is one of ontological enquiry. For me, ceramics is more than just soil; it is like a whole universe ready to unveil its secrets one by one.