Founded seven years ago in Kyiv, GORN Ceramics has become an object lesson in survival. In late August 2020, eight humanoid statues appeared in a quiet corner of the Saint-Sophia of Kyiv conservation area, a 12-acre museum complex centered on the thousand-year-old Saint-Sophia Cathedral. Called “Shadows,” the clay-and-copper sculptures, each faceless and ghostly with a torso-like form planted on a cylindrical base, had been made by Yuriy Myrko, a co-founder of GORN Ceramics, for the annual Bouquet Kyiv Stage Festival. 'The people who keep the cathedral decided they liked the sculptures and proposed to keep them there,' said Bogdan Kryvosheya, who founded GORN with Mr. Myrko and is the studio’s creative director. Originally meant for a short exhibition, the sculptures remained for nearly three years.
“Shadows” marked a turning point for GORN, which had previously focused on utilitarian items like vases and bowls. The figures reflected ideas about human relationships, death, and spirituality. Since then, GORN has continued to produce emotional art pieces alongside its practical offerings. The studio’s work, intensified by the war with Russia and the unpredictability of the future, stands as a testament to creative freedom and resilience amid hardship. Mr. Kryvosheya and Mr. Myrko, along with their third partner, Sasha Mychak, established GORN in 2018 to produce ceramic tableware designed by them and other artists. The journey of these ceramicists showcases the power of art to foster hope and courage in challenging times.
Extracted by: https://Janestrinketonline.com.
