Select your Shipping Country / Region:
Αccept

Christina Morali

Introducing the Contemporary Artist who has rejuvenated Greek Ceramics, experimenting with many forms, materials and techniques, including new concepts of everyday objects

Discovery

Greek Brand New is an annual trade event showcasing Greek crafts and some cosmetics. In both years I visited its cavernous quarters, the work of Christina Morali stood out for its smooth texture and lustrous colourings. Christina Morali is a fine artist and pottery maker who is part of a generation who rejuvenated the art form in Greece. Christina finds inspiration in daily life, a perfect example being her series of Greek cultural icons like ceramic “petit-beurre” biscuits and drachma coins in aluminium. She also draws inspiration from the sea, pebbles, the sky and Greek museums.

She initially designs on pencil and paper and then moulds the clay, before placing it in her kiln. She then adds colours and bakes her pieces for a second time.Every product is in the kiln for ten hours and then Christina waits for another twenty four before she opens it. She can never be sure, until that very moment, whether the product will be damaged in any way. In ceramics, which is the coupling of artistry and natural elements, raw ingredients and technology play a big part. As these products need to be able to withstand daily use, the colours are different to those used in painting or sculpture.

Christina Morali is a fine artist and pottery maker who is part of a generation who rejuvenated the art form in Greece. Christina finds inspiration in daily life, a perfect example being her series of Greek cultural icons like ceramic “petit-beurre” biscuits and drachma coins in aluminium

Memory

Christina comes from a long line of artists. Her grandfather was an architect and her uncle the famous painter, Yannis Moralis.She studied interior design at the Doxiadis school in Athens and ceramics at Hammersmith College of Art in London. While she was still a student, one of her works was chosen for a major building in the City of London. She returned to Greece and set up her workshop in 1976.

She initially wanted to study fine art but she chose the route of applied arts instead. When she announced her decision to her uncle, he told her that “applied arts are the future”, which solidified her resolve. “Even if I lived three hundred times over, I would never be able to fully comprehend the magic of ceramics. It’s a boundless art form”, Christina told us. She fell in love with traditional Greek ceramics at first sight and has always been inspired by her grandfather’s sketches, which she still holds dear.

She initially wanted to study fine art but she chose the route of applied arts instead. When she announced her decision to her uncle, he told her that “applied arts are the future”, which solidified her resolve. “Even if I lived three hundred times over, I would never be able to fully comprehend the magic of ceramics. It’s a boundless art form”

Narration

Christina teaches ceramic art in a 150 square metre loft in Agios Stefanos, which serves as her home and workshop.She finds the moment she opens her kiln very exciting. She gets the same feeling every time she opens it, whether it is to view her work or that of her students. She has exhibited in a number of galleries and museums and showing a series of ceramic shoes at the Karelia museum in Kalamata. Ceramic art was most probably named after Keramos, the son of Ariadne and Dionysus, the protector of pottery makers, who had their workshops in the Keramikos region of Athens.

Back to Features