Johanna Rytkölä
Basic information
b. 1956, Helsinki
Ceramic Sculptor
Residence: VANTAA
Contact information
Phone number: +358 405147126
Email: johanna(a)rytkola.fi
Artist’s Statement
Positivity, tolerance, joy, humour and the impression of movement...
My artistic works are characterized by positivity, clear forms, bright colours and the aim to capture movement in the form of a sculpture. In my work I treat the origin of comfort and happiness. I highlight the meaning of small everyday events, experiences and phenomena as sources of strength and empowerment in my art.
Memories, fantasies, fact and fiction entwine and melt together. My works could be compared to poetry, stories and fairy tales.
Moving experiences, even seemingly mundane moments make me first grab a pen and paper. After sketching I hear the call of clay. I construct my works by mangling slabs of clay or building the form layer by layer. The work progresses slowly and the joy of making is thrilling. Most often I use a quite coarse stoneware clay that shows the scratches and markings of tooling on its surface. By creating a patina finish I want to further emphasize these markings.
Colours crown my efforts. I paint with slips on to the raw clay surface one base color or more. After the bisque firing, I continue working on the colors and texture.
In some of my works I use recycled glass and sometimes platinum or gold finishes off the outcome. Colours are an important part of my story.
My artistic works are characterized by positivity, clear forms, bright colours and the aim to capture movement in the form of a sculpture. In my work I treat the origin of comfort and happiness. I highlight the meaning of small everyday events, experiences and phenomena as sources of strength and empowerment in my art.
Memories, fantasies, fact and fiction entwine and melt together. My works could be compared to poetry, stories and fairy tales.
Moving experiences, even seemingly mundane moments make me first grab a pen and paper. After sketching I hear the call of clay. I construct my works by mangling slabs of clay or building the form layer by layer. The work progresses slowly and the joy of making is thrilling. Most often I use a quite coarse stoneware clay that shows the scratches and markings of tooling on its surface. By creating a patina finish I want to further emphasize these markings.
Colours crown my efforts. I paint with slips on to the raw clay surface one base color or more. After the bisque firing, I continue working on the colors and texture.
In some of my works I use recycled glass and sometimes platinum or gold finishes off the outcome. Colours are an important part of my story.
