How do you think your work differs from other ceramic artists?
I have always had a kind of double-edged state of mind: on the one hand, my work is permeated by design thinking – especially in my porcelain objects, where function and form are the most important aspects. But at the same time I make wood-fired pieces, where handicrafts, raw materials, the unpredictability of firing, the artistic approach are of decisive importance.
Why is woodfiring so close to your heart?
Woodfiring pieces have a mixture of spiritual, emotional and historical relevance to me – these products, made in series of just a few pieces, truly carry the character of the locality, the "genius loci."
©Ábel Lakatos
Does teaching play an important role in your life?
I am a teacher who is happy to pass on all my knowledge, every detail, because I feel that not only do I inspire the students, but they inspire me. That’s why I don’t mind the growing popularity of the ceramics profession which we’ve witnessed in recent years – the market decides who is best.
What are your plans for the future?
I would like to buy my own plot of land, where I can set up my own wood-fired furnace, and where I will have the opportunity to experiment more. I would like to hold workshops there as well. In the meantime I’m working on a new set of porcelain that will be even more colourful than my previous collections.