Through knowledge and research, ceramicist Malia transforms local clays into unique pieces

Fascinated by the activity of the ceramist Malia Pérez and her profound knowledge of the clays she works with, collected in the land where she lives, we asked her to tell us about her experience and the family legacy from which her activity stems. This is the text she sent us, which we are publishing together with a selection of her recent work.

“I am a ceramist and researcher based in Oliete, a village in the province of Teruel where I was born and to which I returned. My story begins with the visionary spirit of my grandfather, who started in the extraction of clays for the ceramic industry and my work consists of the physical-chemical analysis of clays and raw materials in my environment. the physical-chemical analysis of the clays and raw materials from my environment.

My artistic training, attraction for manual work, aesthetics, design and exploration of the environment laid the foundations for today’s fusion of creativity and technique. Each creation is born from the elements collected and selected by hand, guided by inherited knowledge and the curiosity to innovate. I work with the folds of the earth, with its textures, colours and nuances. I am driven by a passion for reimagining ceramics, transforming clay into unique pieces“.

The origin

“The history of Malia Cerámica began with the visionary spirit of my grandfather, who started extracting clays for the ceramic industry. Since the beginning I have maintained a constant and deep dialogue with the earth, taking from it the clay that I transform into unique pieces. Each creation is born from the elements collected and selected byhand, guided by my inherited knowledge and curiosity to innovate.

For me ceramics is more than just a technical: it is a tribute to the earth and to the hands that workit , to the search for the beauty that comes from the naturalelements . This family legacy lives on today, transformed into a work that reflects the unique character of the land of my birth“.

Research

“My attraction to handwork, aesthetics, design and exploration of my environment laid the foundation for a heritage in which I now fuse creativity and technique.

The materialisation of an idea involves a process of experimentation and reflection. Knowledge is the essential tool that gives shape, structure and coherence to an initial idea. Thus, creation is not a spontaneous act, but the result of a fusion of inspiration, research and knowledge.

I use an experimental and exploratory approach to the ceramic working process. My creative process involves the selection and combination of different types of local clays and oxides, seeking to understand the unique qualities and characteristics of each one. I experiment with finishing techniques and discover aesthetic and functional possibilities, as well as the limits of each material. This way of working allows me to broaden my knowledge and mastery of the behaviour of the material”.

Work

“The use of local clays ensures a direct and authentic connection with the environment, which gives each piece a unique character. They capture the geological and chromatic essence of the territory, imbuing them with natural nuances and a personality of their own that reflects the richness of the land they come from.

Each piece is more than an object, it is a dialogue between heritage, tradition and innovation. These creations pay homage to knowledge handed down from generation to generation and open the way to new interpretations of this heritage.

My vision is to create pieces that carry stories and cultural values. Each design reflects the search for new expressions with the idea that each piece is an extension of its environment and a testimony of the territory”.

Vassia

“Con las vasijas que creo, pretendo dignificar las tonalidades y características instrínsecas de las arcillas locales. Los acabados son naturales y vivos, realzan la belleza inherente de la arcilla, mostrando su textura y color natural tras la cocción.

No solo utilizo arcillas sino también óxidos de hierro, pigmento que utilizaban los íberos en la zona para la decoración de sus piezas. Pero además llevo al límite los materiales jugando con las arcillas según temperatura de cocción para modificar sus colores finales o bien sus puntos de fusión, utilizando arcillas de baja temperatura como esmaltes de alta temperatura. También utilizo los lodos del lavado de las arenas para generar un pigmento blanco y refractario.

Cualquier elemento que encuentro es una posibilidad y una oportunidad de creación. La técnica que empleo para construir las piezas, es una técnica tradicional que consiste en modelar el barro manualmente, a partir de churros y capa a capa, generando diferentes texturas y profundidades”.

Tableware pieces

“La vajilla que creo está formada por arcillas locales para la elaboración de la pasta final, la que otorga cuerpo, diseño y forma a los alimentos que contiene. Además el acabado final en color y textura visual que le aportan los esmaltes son también de elaboración propia.

It is a crockery with a local character, with a matt satin finish and irregular pictorial tones, made on the potter’s wheel with a fine but resistant appearance thanks to the clays of which it is composed“.

Project by Malia Pérez