Tünde Ruzicska

Fusing form with function

• Tünde believes in modelling pieces that are usable in a busy modern house
• At the tender age of eight she found her calling
• She reckons exploring your own creative voice is vital, whatever that voice might be saying

For ceramicist Tünde Ruzicska, creating unique tableware is not only about aesthetics. She believes combining characteristic forms with usability and mixing tradition with innovation is the only way. This approach is very much present in her works: pieces of her tableware collections are delicate, bearing the refined simplicity of Hungarian folk ceramics. Yet, due to the techniques she uses, they are also robust enough to withstand use in a modern kitchen or restaurant. She is willing to let go of the confines of practicality only in the case of her sculptures. Tünde is committed to being a skilled craftswoman, but she also believes excellence in itself is not sufficient: you must also find your own way of expression in your works.

Interview

©Mohai Balázs

©Andrási Nikolett

How did you fall in love with ceramics?

When I was eight, I signed up for pottery class at school. After creating my first object, a bell-shaped box, I knew I had found my calling. That is the reason why I was – and am still – able to create objects that spark joy in others when using them.

How would you describe your craft?

I make ceramics tailored to the needs of my customers, and also create individual sculptures that go beyond the limits of function. For me, artistic values, aesthetics, characteristic forms, delicate proportions, and practicality are all important considerations in design and execution.

How do you combine heritage with innovation?

I find the subtle simplicity and good usability of Hungarian folk ceramics very inspiring. Therefore, I use high-fired porcelain and stoneware with glazes that are dishwasher and microwave-proof, so they are suitable for being handled in modern kitchens and restaurants.

What would you suggest to an aspiring ceramicist?

Learn the basics of the craft. Attend all the art schools, observe your contemporaries, be persistent and do your job with passion. But first and foremost, find your own creative voice, and be self-directed with your works.

Tünde Ruzicska is a master artisan: she began her career in 2000 and she started teaching in 2013

Works

Neogrády©Kiss Barnabás

©Ruzicska Tünde

Neogrády©Kiss Barnabás

©Ruzicska Tünde

©Ruzicska Tünde

Where