When I think
about my life, there are a few things I would do differently if I had a chance.
One is that I would study ceramics at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna.
Every time I visit Vienna, I catch myself sneaking through its studios. The
huge ceramic atelier with a high ceiling is situated at the ground floor of a beautiful
old brick-facade building at the Oskar Kokoschka-Platz. The ceramic studio is
filled with light and a good portion of artistic flair.
There is a big
area with pottery wheels and working tables, a separate room for the plaster
mould making, glazing and a kiln room in the basement. The floors are full of
clay dust. The shelves are filled with moulds and pots.
I wanted to
make a few photos of the atelier so I asked for permission. Instead of a quick
sneak inside, I started a very nice conversation with ceramicists who work
there. When I told them how much I wanted to study there, they explained me
that the Institute of Ceramic Arts has been shut.
It is no
longer possible to study ceramics at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna.
The same happened with classical sculpture. The only reason the ceramic atelier
is still there is to support other departments such as a design. How could that
happen? Am I such an old fashioned person that I just don’t understand the
importance of the rise of digital media and gender studies?
Well, the
world is changing and I have to accept it. However, every time I visit the
ceramic studio at the University of Applied Arts I have to think of the grand
dame of ceramics Lucie Rie. She had studied ceramics in these exact rooms.
I just hope
that this ceramics atelier remains as it is: full of clay, dust, plaster, arts
and history.
