Morana Depoli

Peruna

Ceramicist

©Ana-Marija Bujić

Ceramics as a calling

Morana uses stoneware for its strong and tactile properties
She makes clear, functional shapes with visible prints of the makers hands
Her work and colour palette are inspired by Mediterranean nature

Morana Depoli comes from a family with generations of skillful and creative people. She first tried to express herself through textiles, like her grandmother, but ended up choosing her own creative outlet, mastering ceramics. She began working with clay while studying cultural studies. She learned the skills of pottery making by working in a small studio for ceramic souvenirs at first, and later on by learning from professor Boris Roce and artist Dijana Lukić. Her dream started to become a reality when she established Peruna Ceramics as a brand at the age of 30, and her calling became her work. Since then she has been creating and learning through practice in her sunny studio in Dubrovnik.

Interview

©Ana-Marija Bujić

©Ana-Marija Bujić

What is your approach to working with ceramics?: I rely on how I feel while creating. My musings are reflected in clear, functional shapes which have visible hand prints. I pride myself in the selection of quality materials to ensure that Peruna ceramic pieces last for years to come.
What kind of objects do you create?: I mostly create dishes. Every piece is unique as I shape them on the pottery wheel. Sometimes, I apply other techniques as well. The products I make may seem the same, but they are in fact always different, and each one is harmonious in its own way.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?: I use a completely traditional technique of manual clay shaping, where everything goes quite slowly from start to finish. However, the form of the objects I make are very contemporary, with clean lines, quite far from traditional forms.
What do people not usually know about your craft?: Making ceramic objects is a long-term process, especially drying and firing the clay, which cannot be shortened because that could damage the object. This should be respected if you want to start working with clay and produce ceramic objects.

Morana Depoli is a master artisan: she began her career in 2015 and she started teaching in 2015