What was the first object you made?
In kindergarten, for Easter, all of us kids had to make a coil-built jar in the shape of a bird with its beak wide open. I was mesmerised by the process, and seeing the piece come out of the kiln with a bright glossy yellow glaze was thrilling.
What is special about the material you work with?
Clay grounds me and connects me to the earth. When I am on the potter’s wheel working, there is nothing else. Its transformation from unfired to fired, draws me in. After firing, the clay can never return to its original form. It is final, and demands my focus.
©Vigfus Birgisson
What does well made mean to you?
It means that the maker has a good understanding and knowledge of the material they work with; they have a strong technical skill. They understand when to use certain materials for specific purposes. But then, break the rules, leaving us all in awe.
What is a memorable moment in your professional life?
One memory is early after graduating, when I was working really hard to support myself as a potter far away from home, I realised that it is possible for to make a living doing what I absolutely love. I still feel that sense of delight and luck today.