Solid ground exhibition

‘A well-kept ceramic item will last almost forever, and as an eternal item, it should stay in fashion for a long time and not be a passing whim’, says ceramicist Nathalie Lautenbacher.

The exhibition will bring together works from experienced ceramists and designers along with students just starting their career. The familiar and yet fresh and topical themes of the exhibition will vary from tableware to material studies and contemporary ceramic arts. Selected works by teachers and students from the Aalto University archives will also be on display. The exhibition features some of the field’s most prominant names such as Kristina Riska, Sami Ruotsalainen, Kirsi Kivivirta, Kim Simonsson, Lotta Mattila and Matias Karsikas. In addition, projects using new technology and experimental design will offer a sneak peek into the future of the field.

Ceramic art is one of the first subjects taught at the Craft School (Veistokoulu), the first school to offer education in handcrafts and arts in Finland in the 19^th century. But what is ceramics in the 2020’s? As a material, ceramics is ever-relevant within design practices. 

90% of the Earth’s upper mantle is composed of silicate minerals, and ceramics is made by burning these minerals. As the temperature rises, the material undergoes a major change. It becomes hard and will not change its form anymore. We’re living our daily lives on top of this wonderful mineral resource. Thus, ceramics is a gateway to the generations that came before us, to ancient traditions and cultures. Ceramics holds stories of the past, present and future, and with talented hands these stories can come to life. The name of the exhibition — Solid Ground – is a reflection of this notion. 

Aalto University offers bachelor level studies in ceramics in its department of design. The master’s level programme Contemporary Design delves into ceramics as well. Aalto research on ceramics is focused on the artistic process, materiality, ecological issues as well as technological applications. Our ceramics studio is open for all students for exploration.