A Primitive Potter In Turkey | Toprak Sencer | Episode 1018

Toprak Sencer | Episode 1018

Toprak Sencer is a ceramist living in the Aegean region of Turkey, specializing in primitive ceramic methods. Toprak is recognized as a pottery artist by the Turkish Ministry of Culture. Toprak aims to popularize the primitive methods of pottery.

SPONSORS

You can help support the show!

GRPotteryForms.com

diamondcoretools.com

Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com

For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com

How would you define creativity?

That is a really good question. I define creativity as a gift from God.

Ceramics are readily available and mass produced today, from your perspective why does handmade pottery still matter today?

It still matters because handmade pottery has soul inside. It has some unique patterns and unique textures and unique colors and unique shapes. It’s not supposed to be an industrial product. It’s a unique product. And each handmade product is unique.

Why is primitive pottery important today?

Primitive pottery is important today because if I don’t light the fire it is going to be

Why is it important to keep the old firing methods alive?

It is important because lots of ceramic studios, modern ceramic studios…primitive is important because it is accessed. And I don’t want to give it to nothing. I want to hold in my hands. Industrial ceramics, each one look similar. I want to make it a unique way.

What do you want people to feel or experience when they are eating out of your bowl or drinking out of your cup?

My primitive work is not supposed to be food safe. For example if I use some glazes, ash glazes, it will be food safe, but I just make unique artworks and I seal it with bees wax and or sometimes I seal it with rice starch. This is an ancient technique.