Ece Canlı
My Ceramic and Design Journey
After graduating from TOBB University's Industrial Design department, I worked in different areas of design. Illustration works for children's books became part of my experiences. However, instead of limiting my drawings to books, I wanted to explore different areas.
This search introduced me to the art of ceramics. The process, which started as a small trial with ceramics, opened a new path for me over time. I gained experience in the field of ceramics and sculpture by learning from various instructors in different workshops. After these experiences, I decided to open my own ceramic studio, and thus my journey in this field began.
MA Philosophy and the Concept of Space in Ceramic Art
MA means "space" or "interval" in Japanese philosophy. MA describes silence in the face of sound, lack in the face of excess. In the Kanji symbol, MA (門) depicts the sun rising through an open door. In this age of increasing demands and expectations of fast reactions, every individual needs MA in every aspect of their life and every day.
As the Japanese writer and cultural critic Junichiro Tanizaki expressed in 1933: "We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates."
The serenity and space for deep thought that emerges when a person first comes into contact with clay makes one feel the connection between the concept of MA and ceramic art. Inspired by this concept, I designed the interior of my studio in Ankara to emphasize peace, simplicity, and creating space for thought in every detail.