Education Archive #2 – Henryk Lula. Ceramics: The Art Of Matter. Black terracotta

For his ceramic works, Henryk Lula seeks inspiration from both the world of nature and science. He does not copy existing forms, but interprets their artistic qualities such as rhythms or tensions. To bring out and emphasize the simplicity of the shapes or their intricate details, the artist uses the technique of black terracotta. He developed the technique using clay from Kadyny with a high content of fireclay. After the first firing, the vessels were polished to expose the grains contained in the matherial. During the next firing at the highest temperature, the clay was reduced to a black color. The final polishing highlighted the differences in color intensity and gave the impression of a fuzzy surface.