EXPLORING CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS: AN INTERVIEW WITH FUNDA BAYSAL

Funda Baysal, a ceramic and model maker based in Rotterdam, brings to ceramics a distinct approach with her exploration of the intricate dynamics between individuals and their surroundings. 

Funda’s creative practice is deeply influenced by her observations of daily life and internal sensations. In her process, Funda employs various materials, tools, and methods of heat application, creating pieces that reflect moments of learning and discovery, as well as the time and dedication invested in the craft. 

One of the examples of Funda's approach is her project in the Hillesluis district of Rotterdam, where she transformed district residents' stories into tangible objects made of clay. This project, developed through a series of workshops with the residents, culminated in the creation of epoxy-cast seating furniture reintroduced into the neighborhood. 

Funda's unique ability to blend traditional ceramics with contemporary applications made her work resonate both locally and internationally, as evidenced by her recognition in the Jingdezhen International Ceramic Biennale 2023 in China.

Porcelain production is a very labour-intensive process, which got Funda thinking: how could she use modern technology to simplify it, to make it more efficient and productive? 

In her symbiosis of art and craft with modern technology, Funda has captured the sensitivity of the technological aspects of our lives, trying not to follow but, instead, to lead the machines. Through artistic research, she invented a numerical language extracted from a piece of music – FoLiA - one of the oldest European musical themes on record, which she now uses to speak with the machines through a special app developed for her by software engineers. 

Her choice of melody was very specific. In Italian, "follia" means madness. So, through her ceramic creations, Funda is also speaking about the madness of today's world: the political, social, economic aspects of our lives. 

In her creative process, she converses with a machine, translating her emotions, feelings, vision of the world, alongside this historical piece of music, enabling the machine to understand them and to help produce incredible ceramic art which, in turn, can talk to us about both past and present, about tumultuous and delicate feelings, life-changing and epoch-making events. 

3D printers translate the language of music into numbers which are then re-translated into outlandish, bizarre, incredible and delicate shapes in the sensitive, fragile, feminine world of porcelain, with soft colors and ceramic harmony which will live through the years and ages to come. 

We invite you to look beyond the surface of Funda's ceramic creations, to understand the processes and experiences that shape her art. 

The JI: Art as a phenomenon is going through lots of changes. For many people, it is becoming a business, a direction of investment. How do you see art right now? 

Funda Baysal: Art is indeed undergoing significant transformations, influenced by various factors including technological advancements, globalisation, and changing societal values. 

One prominent trend is the increasing commodification of art, where it's seen not just as a form of expression or cultural enrichment, but also as a potential investment opportunity. This shift has led to the emergence of a robust art market where artworks are bought, sold, and traded much like any other asset. 

Ultimately, the way we perceive and engage with art is evolving, shaped by the dynamic interplay of cultural, economic, and technological forces. As we navigate these changes, it's crucial to foster dialogue and critical reflection: to ensure that art continues to inspire, provoke, and enrich our lives in meaningful ways. We can make moves, which can make things genuinely better. 

The JI: Tell us a little bit about your routine. What are the key points, actions, rituals that make you productive and creative? 

Funda Baysal: I regularly set clear goals for my practice, engage in continuous learning, and study my materials. Additionally, I actively seek out interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary collaborations to share knowledge and insights. 

My ritual is to focus on one thing at a time. It's challenging to maintain this pattern as an artist, but I believe it's essential to practise it, because it's just the nature of things. 

The JI: What art inspires you? Which artists, or pieces, or directions in art are your beacons and guiding stars?

Funda Baysal: I have been studying art since high school. People inspire me, particularly the human condition and our relationship to society. There's so much to say about it. I observe people, and those observations lead me to my ideas. 

The JI: In our time, many things can be done through technological tools (apps, AI, etc.). How do you see these tools co-existing with the true talent of an artist? 

Funda Baysal: The digital revolution has opened up new avenues for artistic creation and dissemination. Artists now have access to a vast array of tools and platforms. We've discovered new forms of expression, combining traditional techniques with cutting-edge technologies. It's great, but I don't want them to become replacements for our creative minds.

The JI: Is there a place, apart from your hometown, where you like to create? Where you feel comfortable, inspired? 

Funda Baysal: I have a studio, and every day I practise ceramics, even though it's only for a short time. One cannot feel creative all the time, but if you turn practising anything into a regular pattern in your life, there is a lot to discover. There's no need to push; inspiration comes and finds you. 

The JI: What music, if any, do you listen to while working on your pieces? An audiobook or podcast? Or do you like to work in silence? 

Funda Baysal: I listen to early music, instrumental or psychedelics. 

The JI: If your art could be an emotion, what would it be and why? 

Funda Baysal: Loud, excitement, determined, sympathy, resilience, curious, elegant, balanced. 

The JI: What colors, sounds, or scents do you associate with your art? 

Funda Baysal: green, pink, yellow; vanilla, lemon, melon; clarinet, violin, viola da gamba. 

The JI: What are the books that you would give your children to read? 

Funda Baysal: Aesop's Fables; Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari; everything by Ursula Le Guin; Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: or, How Capitalism Works – and How It Fails by Yanis Varoufakis. 

The JI: In Rotterdam, what is your favourite: 

- place to eat? 

Funda Baysal: Warung Mini (https://warungmini.com/), Little V (https://littlev.nl/). 

- place to meet your friends? 

Funda Baysal: We often visit each other for dinner and drinks. 

- place to be on your own, for some precious me time? 

Hoge Bergse Bos (https://rotta-natuur.nl/ontdek-natuur/natuurgebieden/hoge-bergse-bos/), kayaking.

- book? 

Funda Baysal: The Compass Rose by Ursula K. Le Guin.

The JI: What is the quote of your life: the words that you keep repeating to yourself in stressful, challenging, or joyous, happy times, or simply the words of wisdom that you love? 

Funda Baysal: Socialise with yourself, or you forget what kind of person you are. 

There is a side of life that is not reflected to you by others. Listen to it, like a seashell. 

Don't give your loneliness to anyone. Share everything except your loneliness. 

Don't be afraid of being afraid. Even if you make a compromise. Then close your eyes and step into the darkness. Who knows, maybe someone has laid a stone... 

When everything changes, you will need people who know and love your most original form. 

Actually, it's a song to my youth.