“Firebird”

On the occasion of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC) 50 years anniversary Nina Hole has been invited to build a 4-5 metre ceramic arch in Athens. The festival will open by unveiling this glowing piece.

Since Nina Hole built her first outdoor sculpture in 1994 these projects have developed and been enlarged both technical, physical and geographical.

The starting point was to develop a concept that made it possible to travel around the world building and firing a 3-4 metres high ceramic sculpture in just two weeks. Even with a ceramist’s knowledge of the material clay it could look like being almost an impossible task. Nevertheless it is possible today to see these buildings in countries like Australia, Canada, USA, Sweden, Wales, Lithuania, Portugal and Taiwan, China.

With help from a group of assistants Nina Hole builds her sculptures using a module system of slaps which, besides the technical advantages like a strong structure, fast drying and even distribution of heat, also add a universal architecture to the sculpture that leads one’s thoughts to monasteries, castles and cathedrals.

Through 2 weeks of intense co-operation the process becomes an essential part of the project. This is the place where ceramists and others meet and in that way create a global network.

Even if the technical sculptures are built in the same way the individual sculpture always in shape and expression relates to the specific place and surroundings. Exactly I that is the big challenge according to the project of building in the antic Athens .

Besides Nina Hole the American kiln-builder Fred Olsen and a group of assistants from Denmark and Greece will participate in the project.

When the sculpture is unwrapped and standing glowing in the night you do not need to have a technical knowledge to be fascinated. Nina Hole’s monumental sculptures will always speak to all people in all countries.