In conversation with Reema Abu Hassan
Why ceramic design?
I was introduced to ceramics in architecture school. I was drawn to working with clay because of the imperfection of both the process and the outcome. Being an architect meant that perfection was key, and pottery gave me a place to practise imperfection. I found working with the material extremely meditative.
I practised as an architect for a few years, and upon moving back to Qatar there weren’t any pottery studios – so I set up Clay Encounters to revive and preserve the craft of pottery.
Design inspiration:
I have an MFA in Design and I currently teach master’s students at VCU Arts in Qatar. My design practice focuses on the craft and the role of design within craft. I often draw from my digital fabrication skills to design functional objects. I embrace the imperfection of craft and pair it with the perfection of digitally fabricated objects to highlight the beauty and the necessity of hand-crafted artifacts. I am constantly inspired by the methods of making objects taught to me by artisans, and I let the process drive my design decisions.
Studio in 24 months?
I set up Clay Encounters in 2018 as a small independent studio. I expanded the space in 2020 to accommodate the demand and I opened a second branch in 2022. The studio has three components: the design lab, the artisanry and the school. The focus for the first few years was to revive the craft through teaching and designing ceramic objects. As for the next few years, I plan to focus more on the design lab. I plan to create more work for exhibitions and to take on collaborative projects with other designers in the region.
@clay_encounters
