Tales from the first floor: Nastasiya Kharitonova

About artworks and artists active in the atelier.

Nastasya Kharytonova
Hand #1
Glazed Ceramics
2024
8 x 15 X 6 cm approx

This ceramic piece is a profound expression of the artist’s relationship with touch, emotion, and personal history. Through the act of sculpting, the intimacy of hands is explored, emphasizing that they are the most immediate and personal zone of contact. Thus bringing the artist closer to the act of creation, creating a process deeply tactile and emotional, while enhancing the connection to the artwork.

The color palette reflects a deep affinity for water, with hues transitioning from light to deeper shades, symbolizing a journey into introspection. The hands themselves are a recurring motif, celebrated for their elegant shape and personal significance. Nastasya finds beauty in the ease with which they create hands, attributing this skill to a blend of their father’s nails and mother’s hands—a fusion of familial traits manifested in the piece.

This work is a reflection of the artist’s inner world, inspired by their own hands as symbols of emotion and experience. The artist views themselves as the best translator of these feelings, crafting pieces that transcend language and speak directly to the heart. The contrast between their earlier painting work and this ceramic sculpture marks a significant evolution in their creative journey. As they grow older, the artist finds a deeper satisfaction in the slow, deliberate process of sculpting. Unlike the quick, ephemeral nature of painting, sculpting allows the artist to physically engage with the material, to feel its temperature, and to mold it as an extension of themselves. Through this process, the artist not only shapes the clay but also fixes a part of their own essence within it, making each piece a tangible expression of their inner life.

‘Hands’ is a sculpture by artist Nastasiya Kharitonova
Photo: Nastasiya Kharitonova

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