It is difficult to describe the emotions one feels when encountering a polar bear in its natural habitat. It is a mixture of wonder, excitement, fear and deep respect inspired by an animal that can reach remarkable speed within seconds and moves with equal confidence through water and across land. It is undoubtedly the ruler and one of the most enduring symbols of the Arctic.
I am fascinated by the complexity of its character: calmness and majesty crossing the tundra, patience and persistence while tracking, strength and brutality during a hunt, tenderness in motherhood and an extraordinary determination to survive in one of the harshest environments on Earth.
That is why the polar bear continues to inspire me and remains a recurring subject in my ceramic work. Each sculpture is an attempt to capture something of its presence and character within a small piece of clay.
Quite often, the bears are placed on natural stone bases. Sometimes the stone itself becomes the starting point of the creative process, suggesting a pose, movement or composition. In these works, clay and stone complement one another, creating a dialogue between two natural materials.
In the CLAY & BEAR collection you will find sculptures of different sizes and created using various ceramic techniques, but they all share the same foundation: clay as a medium and the polar bear as a subject. The resulting work is a record of that encounter between material, memory and imagination.
Through this project, I hope to share not only my ceramic work, but also my fascination with one of the most extraordinary animals of the North.
