Kristina Riska

Ceramic Artist, Finland

Lecture Title: Fragile

Thursday, September 2, 2010
5:30 P.M. - Lawrence J. Plym Auditorium
Temple Hoyne Buell Hall

Plym Professor Lecture Series

Kristina's lecture is in conjunction with the Plym Distinguished Professor in-residence this fall, Juhani Pallasmaa. A unique aspect of Juhani's visit with us is the dedicated lecture series speakers, all associated with Juhani's architectural interest in "phenomenology." Current lecturers include Carlos Jiminez on September 13; Alberto Perez-Gomez on October 18; as well as three notable Finnish artists: Ceramist, Kristina Riska on September 2; Composer, Kalevi Aho and Artist, Osmo Rauhala.

Kristina Riska received her training from the University of Art and Design, Department of Ceramics in Helsinki in 1984, and was a part-time teacher from 1988-1994. She first began as an apprentice at Arabia Factory in 1984. She has concentrated on creating unique ceramics works. Kristina has also made some serial production objects. A good example is the extremely popular KoKo series that she designed with Kati Tuominen-Niittylä. Kristina Riska has received the Suomi (Finland ) - Prize in 1995. That same year she received the Medaglia D’oro, Faenza, Italia and in 2002 the Silver Medal in Mino, Japan.

”There always has to be a reason, an impulse, which makes you create a work of art. My own works are my inner images that I give form to. My relationship to the material is to make it impossible. It makes working with ceramics very challenging. In my works ugly and beautiful are always side by side.”

”Architecture means aesthetically a lot to me. Also history and environment bring interesting views to art – especially how people leave their marks to them.”

”One of the most memorable exhibition was in 1991 in Kluuvi gallery, Helsinki, together with my architect husband Kimmo Friman. For the exhibition I made a huge 15 meter long Meandra work that freed me from the shape of a traditional dish. It enabled a new approach to the creation of ceramics.”

Source: www.artarabia.fi