Since i love to learn new skills and to keep my hands busy doing and creating things, it wasn’t so far to participate in a workshop in Istanbul. Whenever i pass by market stalls, shops or studios which sell and/or display ceramics, a smile appears on my face. I just find it beautiful and if i were able to, i would have a great selection of ceramics in various shapes and colors. So why not give it a try and do some ceramic on my own? After just a quick look, in the world-wide-web, i stumbled upon “Dialogue tableware”, ceramic studio Ortaköy. Not only the fact of the website written in English made me pay attention, but also its style and most of all the ceramics which were shown in the gallery. I immediately fell in love with this simple, clean and yet so tender in shape formed cups and plates.
Behind the scenes, there is Yesim Özdemir, a ceramic Artist based in Istanbul. She studied at Hacettepe University Department of Arkeology and completed her study at Putney Art and Design School Department of Ceramics Art in London between 2008 to 2010. She was entitled to be an Ceramics Artist of the Ministry of T.C. Culture and Tourism in 2014. Amongst this she had many exhibitions in and out of Turkey, as well as she won the first prize of II. International Izmir Art Bienal in 2013. She is the owner of dialogue tableware studio in Ortaköy. If you would ask her about the name of her studio, she would tell you this:
“The idea behind the brand came out of the fact that around the dinner table is where some of the great talks were made for many of us. Dining table’s power of getting people together undeniable so each element of dinnerware contributes to make a great conversation and deepen friendship which makes them much more important than being just a plate. From my point of view each piece is an active participant of the table. I make plates that helps establishing dialogue.”
After i got in contact with Yesim i attended a workshop two weeks later. Her studio is a little, welcoming place with all what it needs to create your own beautiful ceramics, a place where it becomes a pleasure to get „dirty“ hands while kneading mould. Here you can take a break from everyday life and enjoy some hours of creativity. Yesim will give you simple instructions and let you be free in doing whatever is on your mind. There is a kitchen to prepare tea and coffee and meanwhile everyone is working on its own things there is also time to have some nice conversations with other participants.
On wooden shelves, hanging on the wall, you will find a selection of Yesims work. Each and every piece is made by hand and a product which is not only a promising pleasure to your eyes but high quality in material and its processing. With the aim to create „functional ceramics and porcelain“ Yesim Özdemir is designing, preparing, slip casting, firing and glazing with passion. Each piece is slightly different even though it has the same shape and colour. That´s what makes it so charming and natural, amongst other things.
Yesim Özdemir is offering workshops in her studio and you can choose between a workshop for a day and a workshop which lasts three months. To get more information just check out Yesim Özdemirs websites here and here.
