What techniques do you apply during your work?
Ana: Slab building is our favourite technique. It enables us to create irregular surfaces, which – in turn – are painted with the mono-printing techniques. We usually apply paints on the surface of old newspapers layer by layer, so that the background is painted last. The final results are only seen when the paints are transferred to the clay.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?
Nino: Our connection with tradition is very tight, as the majority of our favourite motifs and patterns are inspired by architectural details, old textile pieces, etc. Some of the shapes of our works reflect traditional vessels typical to Georgia. The innovation, on the other hand, is how we improvise and mix up these themes with unexpected elements by applying them to modern, everyday objects.
© Lasha Adamashvili
How do you reflect the surrounding environment in your work?
Ana: With white clay objects, we tried to add some brightness and optimism to the gloomy environment of the 1990s, which was a difficult transitional period – full of political and social turmoil – for the Georgian people. As western culture penetrated Georgia, we went back to exploring our own traditions and identity. Now, we’re thinking about the current challenges we face as a society, and our recent series of works reflects these issues.
Is there a particular collection that people love most?
Nino: Among our signature collections are mugs featuring the openwork patterns typical of the balconies of Old Tbilisi, as well as tableware bearing the motifs of Georgian blue tablecloths with a variety of zoomorphic (dear, stags, lions, fish, birds) and anthropomorphic images. People fell in love with these items, which helped us to grow our audience.