Meet the Maker
In my studio in Barcelona
It's as good a time as any to properly introduce myself here.
My name is Maryia, I’m from Belarus but since 2015 live in Barcelona, Spain. I was trained as an architect, but I haven’t been practicing architecture for years.
Before starting virmary I was working in product design and doing graphic design and digital illustration on the side. But I always wanted to make something of my own, with my hands. I started learning ceramics as a hobby, but it quickly became more than that.
Clay is an incredible material. For me it’s the shortest route from my imagination to a physical object. During the first steps, I don’t need to rely on any special equipment or other people. It’s just an idea I have, my hands and clay.
Aside from the very initial handbuilding classes I took in 2018, I learn by doing, failing and doing again. While I’m at it, ceramics teaches me much more than I could hope for. I’m an anxious person, so it’s hard for me to stay present in the process and let go of the fixation on the results. Working with clay gently (and not so gently) kicks these habits out of me. I’m getting better at patience, grounding myself, letting go of expectations and trusting the process. It’s a work in progress, for sure. Virmary is my antidote to anxiety.
Since early on I have defined certain principles for the project. I shared them all before, and you can take a look here. Having established these boundaries means that I can experiment and change, but still stay coherent. I have different ideas of where it’s all going every year and it doesn’t feel chaotic, but rather as an evolution. It is the best place to satisfy my curiosity. Because I change all the time, it’s only natural that virmary changes with me.
I would like you to follow along!
