ARTIST STATEMENT

Swanica finds a connection with Mother Nature through the creation of ceramic art. Her pieces radiate the warmth of earthenware colors, and express the elegance and harmony of nature through her designs, the interplay between line and form, and surface treatment.

Over the years, she explored alternative glazing, kiln and firing techniques; Horsehair, Raku, Naked Raku, Pit, Saggar and Wood firings.

Each firing offers something special and requires a deep understanding and interactive play to develop and master a unique technique and style.

With the horsehair raku technique one removes red hot pieces from the kiln and applies horsehair or other materials, fumes them, which results in exquisite colors.

Special Judges’ Award “Four Seasons” Horsehair Vase at the Mashiko International Ceramics Competition of Japan in 2006.





She researched the red color to get it deep, dark and warm with feeling before she moved to Japan. This color conjures up a range of seemingly conflicting emotions from passionate love to violence and warfare. Red is Cupid and the Devil. In China red is the color of happiness and prosperity and may be used to attract good luck. In Japan it stands also for heroism.

Her “Kamakura Red Ware” is inspired by the texture and red pigment color of the Kamakura Bori Art. The multi-layered red glaze symbolizes love, passion and strength. Living in Kamakura with its rich culture and its long heritage of wood carving allowed her to create a unique style, combining the best of the east and the west.

Swanica was stimulated to re-discover the functionality of her work by being in Japan.
The form of the teapot evolved from the research done to define the shape and functionality of a drinking cup.

The magical number three was used to divide the surface and is repeated in the decoration. This number has lots of positive significances, especially the meaning of the three divine principles: light, heat, and life, linking it to the red color.

“Kamakura Red Teapot” in the International Contemporary Teapot Exhibition in Phoenix, NCECA conference, 2009.





Most of her pieces are based on traditional forms thrown on a wheel and then altered.

Her designs are abstract and find a balance in her ceramics piece.
In addition to her “traditional” pieces she finds innovative ways to present her wall art. Her slabs combined with other natural materials create one harmonious work of art.

Her finished pieces hope to stir the curiosity and imagination, and are completed by use and the passing of time.