P01
Našagama
2022


Location
Zagreb
Inspiration / kiln, flame, and ash
Anagama, a traditional Japanese wood-fired kiln for ceramics, leaves unique textures on pottery that are difficult or impossible to achieve with other types of kilns. The beauty of the wood firing process lies in its unpredictability, with the final result depending on the ash from the burning wood that flies through the kiln chamber, leaving unique marks on the clay alongside the flickering flames. Objects that are closer to the flame often have a thick layer of glassy ash, while those further in the kiln generally exhibit more subtle traces and natural matte finishes.

Challenge / water, fire, and vision
The creation of ceramics is often a long and solitary process. When you encounter fellow travelers united by a similar vision, you make sure that fire doesn’t extinguish. Anagama is not just a kiln – it is a philosophical and aesthetic process that connects ceramics with natural elements: fire, water, and earth. The firing process can last for days, requiring patience, experience, and constant attention; the construction of the Anagama itself is even more demanding. This process requires a collective and the wisdom it brings.



Construction / spark, circle, and collective
The mentioned collective had been meeting for months. They shared their experiences, knowledge, and hopes, and over time, they dedicated themselves to building a true Anagama kiln. They named it Našagama, honoring all the collective effort they had put in – “Naša”, meaning “ours”, and “gama”, derived from “Anagama”. The effort of eight women, eight individuals who now, in the midst of a fiery storm, sit in a circle around the kiln, listening to it and acting as one: Lidia Boševski, Marijana Zlatec, Nada Benc Štuka, Narcisa Glažar, Marina Mijatović, Milenka Živković, Charlotte Fuentes, Božica Marukić.
The construction process was long. They would build the body of the kiln brick by brick, and then through firing, they concluded that certain modifications were necessary. And so it went several times. Today, they are still on that path, but they are closer than ever to having a fully functional wood-fired kiln, which is the oldest and most natural method of ceramic production and one of the few in Croatia.
The construction process was long. They would build the body of the kiln brick by brick, and then through firing, they concluded that certain modifications were necessary. And so it went several times. Today, they are still on that path, but they are closer than ever to having a fully functional wood-fired kiln, which is the oldest and most natural method of ceramic production and one of the few in Croatia.

Photography Collective archive
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2023
Poliklinika sveti Ante
