Turning the wheel: Mapping local materiality and its potential for CNC extrusion of clay and minerals

The CYENS Thinker Maker Space presents a two-week event focused on mapping local materiality and its potential for CNC extrusion.

During the event our guest visitors Joëlle Bitton and Kevin Hinz will be exploring the opportunities afforded by clay extrusion together with local artists and practitioners Melita Couta, Souzana Petri and Vassos Demetriou, in a renewed engagement with materiality. Re-thinking traditional making methods we will be exploring the possibilities of making, through data controlling CNC-machines. In an experimental public space set-up in Dimarchia’s Square, Kevin and Joëlle will be showcasing their latest research through a social exchange of information and skills with passers-by and practitioners.

The event is organised by CYENS Thinker Maker Space with the support of S+T+ARTS regional centre CYENS Center of Excellence as part of  S+T+ARTS Residencies and S+T+ARTS Academies.

READ MORE HERE

The seven-millennia-long history of clay and ceramics in Cyprus resonates in numerous ways in contemporary realities, transferring social, cultural, and technological expressions of our civilization. Looking afresh at the plurality and adaptability of clay as a structural and ecosensitive raw material, local and visiting experts seek to rediscover the diachronic histories, as well as remap and reframe the potential of Cypriot earth and minerals. Adding to existing taxonomies, formal / informal histories, traditions and practices connected to Cypriot earth and minerals, our invited guests and local artists / practitioners will employ new ways to rethink materiality, locale, making processes and experiences by experimenting with new techniques and technological tools.

During a two-week series of activities, physical and digital data collection, mapping and creative experimentations through a data controlling CNC-machine will be used to explore the opportunities afforded by clay extrusion as a renewed engagement with local materiality.

Related talks and presentations open to the public will initiate the series of events. Following, a two-day road trip around seminal Cypriot locales will allow the collection of raw and digital materials, as well as meeting with the living practices and histories related to clay and ceramics making. Finally, during an experimental public space set-up in Dimarchias square, Kevin and Joelle will be showcasing their latest research on data-controlling CNC clay extrusion through a social exchange of information and skills with passers-by and practitioners.

In the whole duration of the events, an exhibition showcasing historic and contemporary expressions of local ceramics, as well as the various experimentations and results from the workshops will be constantly enriched and remain open to the public.

REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

The event is open to the public. Registration is required only to attend the talks and masterclasses, since limited seats are available. 

REGISTER FOR THE TALKS

Registration for physical presence to the talks are now closed.
You can still register to watch the talks online via the link below.

STAY TUNED FOR ANY UPDATES ON THE EVENT

EVENT CALENDAR

11.05

16:00-20:00
INTRODUCTION

The visiting facilitators together with local artists/practitioners and TMS, will be presenting their work and the possibilities offered by the CNC extruder.

12-13.05

08:30-20:00
MATERIALS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE

A two-day tour around Cyprus in which the team will be introduced to local materials, craftspeople and Cypriot ceramics history.

16-18.05

10:00-19:00
RANDOMNESS
OF EXPOSURE

A series of masterclasses and a 3-day hands-on workshop that will have an experimental set-up in Dimarchia’s Square (public space).

19-20.05

10:00-19:00
WHAT HAVE
WE GOT HERE: MATERIALS
& OBJECTS LIBRARY

All the outcomes of the tour and workshop will be showcased in the exhibition area of TMS. This will include 3D printed objects produced by the CNC extruder and the material library collected from the two-day tour.

11.05-03.06

10:00-19:00  |  EXHIBITION

Parallel to the talks, there will be an open exhibition featuring work from our guest visitors Joëlle Bitton and Kevin Hinz, the participating local artists and practitioners Melita Couta, Souzana Petri and Vassos Demetriou and the Cyprus Handicrafts Centre. The exhibition will be open and running parallel to the rest of the activities of the event.

The exhibition will remain open for viewings from the 11th of May until the the 3rd of June, Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 16:00.

  • TMS Exhibition Area
  • Open to the public / walk-in
  • No registration or advance booking is necessary

11.05

16:00-20:00
INTRODUCTION

The visiting facilitators together with local artists/practitioners and TMS, will be presenting their work and the possibilities offered by the CNC extruder.

12-13.05

08:30-20:00
MATERIALS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE

A two-day tour around Cyprus in which the team will be introduced to local materials, craftspeople and Cypriot ceramics history.

16-18.05

10:00-19:00
RANDOMNESS OF EXPOSURE

A series of masterclasses and a 3-day hands-on workshop that will have an experimental set-up in Dimarchia’s Square (public space).

19-20.05

10:00-19:00
WHAT HAVE
WE GOT HERE: MATERIALS
& OBJECTS LIBRARY

All the outcomes of the tour and workshop will be showcased in the exhibition area of TMS. This will include 3D printed objects produced by the CNC extruder and the material library collected from the two-day tour.

11.05-03.06

10:00-19:00  |  EXHIBITION

Parallel to the talks, there will be an open exhibition featuring work from our guest visitors Joëlle Bitton and Kevin Hinz, the participating local artists and practitioners Melita Couta, Souzana Petri and Vassos Demetriou and the Cyprus Handicrafts Centre. The exhibition will be open and running parallel to the rest of the activities of the event.

The exhibition will remain open for viewings from the 11th of May until the the 3rd of June, Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 16:00.

DAY-TO-DAY SCHEDULE

11.05

16:00-20:00
INTRODUCTION

The visiting facilitators together with local artists/practitioners and Thinker Maker Space, will be presenting their work and the possibilities offered by the CNC extruder.

PRESENTATIONS
SCHEDULE

16:00 – Digital Fabrication & Rapid Prototyping
Presentation by the Thinker Maker Space Team

16:30 – Embodied Fabrication or the Pursuit of Oddness
Presentation by Joëlle Bitton

17:00 – Brick Geometries: 5-Axis Additive Manufacturing for Architecture
Presentation by Kevin Hinz

Break (30 min)

18:30 – Ancient ceramics with a modern twist
Presentation by Souzana Petri

19:00 – From nature to art
Presentation by Vassos Demetriou

19:30 – Clay as Performance
Presentation by Melita Couta

Open Discussion (Snacks & Drinks will be available)

12-13.05

08:30-20:00
MATERIALS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE

A two-day tour around Cyprus in which the team will be introduced to local materials, craftspeople and Cypriot ceramics history. During the first day of the tour, the team will be collecting physical and digital data, local clay and soil as an attempt of mapping the materiality of Cyprus and creating a materials library. Our local representatives will be demonstrating how these materials can be collected and used. On the second day of the tour, we will be visiting local ceramists studios, artists and museums, collecting information in order to generate a visual library of the Cypriot  craftsmanship.

  • Tour around various locations
  • Open to the public Everyone interested in the tour can attend with their own car and expenses. It is advised to keep up with the predetermined schedule, although times might defer due to traffic.
  • STAY TUNED FOR ANY CHANGES ON THE TOUR SCHEDULE

TOUR SCHEDULE
DAY 1 – CRAFTSPEOPLE

08:30 – Departure from Nicosia
CYENS will be the meeting/starting point

09:30 – Arrival at Kornos
– Collection of materials tour
– Demonstration by Souzana Petri
– Traditional wheel demonstration by Vasoulla Adamou

12:00-14:00 – Lunch Break

14:00 – Departure for Larnaca

15:00 – Arrival at Larnaca
– Visit at the Archeological Museum of Larnaca
– Visit at Vassos Demetriou studio
– Visit at Gitonia Kalitechnon (Artists Alley)

18:30 – Departure for Nicosia

20:00 – Arrival at CYENS

TOUR SCHEDULE
DAY 2 – MATERIALS COLLECTION

08:30 – Departure from Nicosia
CYENS will be the meeting/starting point

09:30 – Arrival at Mitsero
– Collection of materials
– Demonstration by Souzana Petri

13:30-15:00 – Lunch Break

15:00 – Departure for Phini

16:00 – Arrival at Phini
– Collection of materials

– Demonstration by Yiota Dimosthenous

18:00 – Departure for Nicosia

20:00 – Arrival at CYENS

OPEN EXPERIMENTATION

16-18.05

10:00-19:00
RANDOMNESS OF EXPOSURE

The 3-day hands-on workshop will have an experimental set-up in Dimarchia’s Square, open to all, inviting passers-by to take part. The passers-by will have the opportunity to take part in/ observe the following activities:

  • Printing pre-determined files
  • Printing files with disruptions and glitches
  • Digital manipulation of 3D shape using Rhino & Grasshopper
  • “Drawing live” with the Printer (changing factors as the printer is running)
  • Sending data via Telegram app that will be transformed into geometries for print
  • Dimarchia's Square
  • Open to the public, inviting passers-by Drop-in/Drop-out. Passers-by can stay for as long as they wish.
  • No registration or advance booking is necessary

MASTERCLASSES:
HAND BUILDING & DECORATION TECHNIQUES

16.05

16:30-19:30
COILING TECHNIQUE

by Souzana Petri

This workshop is ideal for beginners who want to learn the basics of pottery using the coiling technique. You will be taught how to hand-build your own objects.

17.05

16:30-19:30
SLAB
BUILDING
TECHNIQUE

by Souzana Petri

Learn how to use the slab-building technique to create structural 3D objects.

18.05

16:30-19:30
DEMONSTRATION OF WHEEL THROWING

by Pambos Hadjicharalambous

DECORATION WITH BYZANTINE PATTERNS

by Anastasia Chrysostomou

During this workshop you will have the opportunity to watch Pambos Hadjicharalambous’ demonstration using the Wheel throwing technique; the process of shaping clay on the pottery wheel. Following the demonstration, Anastasia Chrysostomou will teach you how to decorate your objects with Byzantine patterns.

16.05

16:30-19:30
COILING TECHNIQUE

by Souzana Petri

This workshop is ideal for beginners who want to learn the basics of pottery using the coiling technique. You will be taught how to hand-build your own objects.

17.05

16:30-19:30
SLAB
BUILDING
TECHNIQUE

by Souzana Petri

Learn how to use the slab-building technique to create structural 3D objects.

18.05

16:30-19:30
DEMONSTRATION OF WHEEL THROWING

by Pambos Hadjicharalambous

DECORATION WITH BYZANTINE PATTERNS

by Anastasia Chrysostomou

During this workshop you will have the opportunity to watch Pambos Hadjicharalambous’ demonstration using the Wheel throwing technique; the process of shaping clay on the pottery wheel. Following the demonstration, Anastasia Chrysostomou will teach you how to decorate your objects with Byzantine patterns.

20.05

TALK & PRESENTATION  |  18:00-18:30
CLAY MATERIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES:
CO2 REDUCTION AND WATER TREATMENT

by Ioannis Vyrides

Clay minerals are affordable, abundant, naturally occurring minerals found in many parts of the world that have been used effectively for environmental processes. These minerals have been used in the disposal and storage of hazardous chemicals and remediation of polluted water. In addition, the use of clay minerals as the adsorbents for the adsorption of various hazardous substances (heavy metals, dyes, antibiotics, biocide compounds, and other organic chemicals) and CO2 has been widely studied by many researchers. Their performance depends on their characteristics, such as particle size, surface chemistry, particle shape, surface area, and other physical and chemical properties specific to a particular application. The ability to alert its characteristics by various processes can potentially improve its performance in the applications above.

SHOWCASE OPENING  |  18:30-20:00
WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE:
MATERIALS & OBJECTS LIBRARY

All the outcomes of the workshop will be showcased in the exhibition area of Thinker Maker Space. The showcase is going to include 3D printed objects produced by the CNC extruder, the material and visual library collected from the two-day tour and audio-visual documentation of  the two-week workshop. The showcase will be open to the public and accompanied by open discussions & reflection sessions.

 

23.05-03.06

10:00-16:00  |  SHOWCASE CONTINUATION
WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE: MATERIALS & OBJECTS LIBRARY

The showcase will remain open for viewings from the 23rd of May until the the 3rd of June, Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 16:00.

GUEST VISITORS

Joëlle Bitton
JOËLLE BITTON

Joëlle Bitton is an ‘undisciplined’ practitioner. She currently teaches at the Zurich University of the Arts in Interaction Design. With her works, Joëlle explores a sense of intimacy and personal geography with machines and systems that are usually considered cold or unfriendly.

She likes most to entangle strangeness and familiarity together. As such, in her doctoral thesis at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, she created embodied fabrication experiences of personal data controlling CNC-machines.

She has also conducted HCI research at Media Lab Europe, Distance Lab and Culture Lab/Newcastle University. She has explored the mediation of technologies in human relationships and their potential social impact, notably with the projects “RAW” and “Passages”. She graduated from Université Paris Sorbonne in contemporary history on the 19th-century rise of nations correlated with the development of networks and technologies.

She advocates for the de-evangelisation of technologies and of design as problem-solvers and as markers of progress, especially in the context of global warming.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA   |   instagram/msvarjak   |   linkedin/joellebitton   |   twitter/msvarjak

WEBSITE   |   freeradicals.io

Joëlle Bitton ceramics
Joëlle Bitton ceramics
Joëlle Bitton ceramics
Kevin Hinz
KEVIN HINZ

Kevin’s professional experience began in the construction business, a hands-on approach of learning the craft of building in practice. His academic studies focused on digital technologies for architecture, culminating in a thesis titled Brick Geometries: 5-Axis Additive Manufacturing for Architecture, a topic that looked specifically at 3D printed ceramics. He contributed to the construction of multiple exhibits, system prototypes, and architectural pavilions designed to explore the future of ceramics in architecture. After setting up a lab to print ceramics in the University of Montreal to explore numerical simulation and model optimization for 3D printing clay, Kevin moved to Zurich, Switzerland to work as a Digital Specialist, developing digital tools for KCAP Architects and Planners.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA   |   linkedin/kevin-hinz 

WEBSITE   |   kevinhinz.com

Kevin Hinz ceramics
Kevin Hinz ceramics
Kevin Hinz ceramics

LOCAL EXPERTS

Melita Couta
MELITA COUTA

Melita Couta is a multidisciplinary artist born in Nicosia, Cyprus. She studied in Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London (BA in Fine Art- Sculpture) and at the Slade School of Fine Art in London (MFA in Sculpture). 

She has been working with sculpture, ceramics, installation art, performance as well as using collaborative and participatory methodologies in order to investigate subjects related with narratives through personal and collective identities and memories. As a curator and Artistic Director she has worked with local communities on Cultural projects, Festivals and Workshops in order to revisit local histories and making processes.

She has been exhibiting her work widely in Cyprus and abroad in numerous solo and group exhibitions. Some of her participations include “TERRA MEDITERRANEA – IN CRISIS / STIS MARUDIAS” House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios – Ethnological Museum –  Nicosia, “BEAUFORT 04” Triennale of Sculpture – Belgium, “The Location of Culture” Pulchri Studio – The Hague, “CHYPRE 2010: L’ art au Present” Gallery Espace Commines – Paris, “Breaking Walls – Building Networks” Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art – Thessaloniki, “AGORAFOLLY OUTSIDE – INSIDE” Place de Grand Sablon, Europalia – Brussels.

Melita Couta has been working extensively in theatre and performing arts as a director, performance designer and producer collaborating with the Cyprus Theatre Organisation and other independent theatres in  Cyprus, UK and Poland.

She is a Visiting Lecturer at the Fine Art Department of The Cyprus University of Technology and at the Fine Art Department of The Nicosia University teaching Ceramics amongst other courses.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA   |   instagram/melitacouta   |   facebook/melita.couta

WEBSITE   |   www.melitacouta.com

Melita Couta artworks
Souzana Petri
SOUZANA PETRI

With a specialisation in ceramics and metals, having completed her masters in 2015 with a distinction from Brighton University, Souzana returned to Cyprus and founded Souzana Petri Crafts in the historic center of Nicosia. Her highly acclaimed work has been featured in exhibits in the UK, Italy, Spain and Austria.

In Cyprus, Souzana’s reputation within her field has resulted in countless collaborations, workshops and exhibitions of her work within cultural organisations such as the Ministry of Education, Archaeological department of the University of Cyprus and the Pierides Archaelogical Museum – Bank of Cyprus Cultural foundation.

Souzana’s work represents a true and direct lineage to our ancient past. She draws inspiration from the ancient history of ceramics and incorporates a modernised perspective to continue the dialogue with today’s audience. As well as her private work, she holds innovative and interactive educational workshops all over the island to teach our local history through her art.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA   |   instagram/souzana.petri.crafts  |  facebook/SouzanaPetriCrafts

Souzana Petri jewellery
Souzana Petri ceramics
Souzana Petri ceramics
Vassos Demetriou
VASSOS DEMETRIOU

Vassos Demetriou was born in 1954 in occupied Famagusta. After graduating from Instituto d’Arte Ceramica in Italy, he returned to Cyprus and set up his own workshop in 1982. His first objects were raku pots and vessels but he eventually became an acclaimed potter, frequently receiving awards at the Panhellenic Ceramic Exhibition: 1st prize (1990), 2nd prize (2000, 1988), 3rd prize (1986 and 2010). He has had six solo exhibitions in Cyprus and has participated in various group exhibitions in Cyprus and abroad (Italy, Egypt, Malta, Kuwait, Bulgaria, Australia). He is quite optimistic about pottery, not considering it an endangered art, judging from the pottery classes he offers to both amateur and professional enthusiasts of the craft.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA   |   instagram/demetriouvassos  |  facebook/VassosDemetriouCeramicArt

vassos demetriou ceramics
vassos demetriou ceramics
vassos demetriou ceramics
Ioannis Vyrides
IOANNIS VYRIDES

Dr Ioannis Vyrides is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Cyprus University of Technology. He has been in the Environmental Engineering Laboratory group leader since 2012. He holds a Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece (2005). He has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Imperial College London, where he worked on the Submerged Anaerobic Membrane Reactor (SAMBR) to treat organic saline wastewater (2009). He has worked as a Post Doc at the Kings College London (2009-2010) and was a Visiting Lecturer at CUT (2011).

 

SOCIAL MEDIA   |   facebook/Environmental-Engineering-Lab-Cyprus-University-of-Technology

cyprus handicraft centre
CYPRUS HANDICRAFT CENTRE

The Cyprus Handicraft Centre is located in Athalassa Avenue in Nicosia, Cyprus, and houses the Municipal Handicraft Services of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry. The Centre functions as a means for the revival of traditional arts and crafts, and their gradual implementation in the contemporary craft-making practices. It provides workshops in wheel spinning and features replicas of the age-long tradition of the island in pottery and ceramics such as terracottas, glazed and byzantine artefacts.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA  |  instagram/cyprus_handicraft_service  |  facebook/CyprusHandicraftService

WEBSITE    |   http://www.meci.gov.cy/meci/chs/

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