Ceramic Handbook

Photograph by Anne Kinnunen

Who are you and what are you studying? 

Maria Punkkinen, Contemporary Design. 

Do you see yourself as an artist, craftsperson or designer? Something else? 

As an artist. 

At what stage are your studies? 

Thesis writing is in progress, otherwise all studies have been completed. 

How did you end up working with clay? 

Actually by accident. I picked design studies and originally thought to pair it with textiles, but in the beginning of my BA I wanted to try other materials. When I was introduced to clay, it seemed so different and endlessly interesting and I'm still on the same path. 

Do you only work with clay? 

At the moment, very much so. Admittedly, drawing is also another its “own tool”. However, I see it as very possible that I would work with other materials in the future. 

What project are you currently working on? 

The project to be described is the production part of my master's thesis. 

What are you researching in the project? What inspired it? 

Originally, the work originated from a course taken during exchange studies to answer the question ‘why do I work with clay’. My own answer in one word is “touch”. Through it, I ended up reflecting on loneliness as well as a multi-sensory art experience. Technically, in my work I also consider the relationship between my own handprint and the footprint created by the machine. 

What technique do you use? Why? 

The model uses 3D scanning and CNC milling. After that, a plaster mold has been made and the work has been cast from porcelain. 

I used 3D scanning so that the final work could be a life-size torso - after scanning, the work is scaled a little bigger for milling. I wanted to try milling partly because it was foreign to me before, but also because I was interested in what kind of mark it would leave on the surface. The casting, on the other hand, reproduces the details best. 

What have been the biggest challenges and surprises in the process? 

The surprise has been how well everything went in the end. A big thank you goes to everyone who helped with the project. COVID brought its own challenges to the schedules - mainly in terms of getting the work completed on time. The positive surprise has been the end result overall, I couldn’t wait for what I got. I like the details and mistakes that have come during the making process. 

What do you want to work on in the future? 

I’m interested in art as a multi-sensory experience. I would like to make works that can be touched, for example, or experienced beyond the visual sense. I am interested in people and their stories, and working with them.