The artist Efstratia Karaïskaki works and creates completely hand-made objects in Perea of Thessalonica. A young woman, full of inspiration and the desire to communicate a sensitivity that fills her, striving to exceed her limits. Her workshop is relatively small, yet creative, with the pottery wheel in front view. The clay is shaped, modeled and engraved using Sgrafito or Sgrafiti techniques (engraved whitewash) in combination with colours. A time-consuming process which renders each item created by the hand of Karaiskaki unique.
A small analysis of the pottery manufacture process by their creator, Efstratia Karaïskaki, will provide the basic facts to help us understand their uniqueness and collectibility. During the first stage, the clay is shaped on the wheel, to acquire the desired form. While it is still moist, in this first stage, it is whitewashed and engraved. After it dries, it is baked, painted, glazed and enters the furnace anew for a second session, which provides us with the resulting object. As regards to the future of ceramics, the artist is an ardent supporter of the technique and believes that the vital information pertaining to this age-old conjectural art can be preserved and passed on to future generations.
The artist Efstratia Karaïskaki was fortunate to have studied at the School of Ceramics under Giorgos Vardaxis, the seventh ceramics artist in a family tradition in the Koutahiotiki technique of Sgrafito (Koutahio was a Greek village in Asia Minor). She studied and worked for years at the workshop of the Vardaxis family, acquiring proficiency in her technique and continuing its tradition. Today, in Greece, she continues the precious ceramic work of the family of Giorgos and Natacha Vardaxis. Her development was furthered by her attendance at the School of Art Therapy, specialising in pottery, in Utrecht and the establishment of a workshop in the same city. Her work’s development has a freshness that renders it unique and easily recognizable. In her last work, the unique artifacts speak of childhood innocence. Thus, repeated geometric patterns with whitewashed engravings of flowers, stars, spirals and other elements compose a colorful puzzle of small and large inlays. A feeling of happiness characterizes the whole collection, small and large samples alike.
She exhibits and sells her works in renowned Galleries all over Greece, as well as abroad.
By Magda Mystikou
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