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Watching the Anagama: Heat, collaboration, craft and waiting

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CoDe community participates in a traditional Anagama firing at Ceramic Center Kuu, Orimattila
Shelves inside a Anagama kiln filled with assorted clay pots, vases and sculptures in earthy tones
Photo by Marcelo Guajardo

This past month of May, Contemporary Design students, alumni, and teachers from Aalto joined master firers at Ceramic Center KUU in Mallusjoki, Orimattila, to take part in a traditional anagama wood-firing. Over four days, teams chopped wood, tended shifts through day and night, and carefully pushed the kiln toward peak heat. When the kiln was finally opened it revealed the collaborative results of ash, flame, clay, and time. This celebration that also marked the 25th firing anniversary of this particular anagama, founded, as the KUU centre, by Jari Vesterinen. Alongside the making, the team documented the process for a photo reportage, capturing the people, rhythms, tools, and knowledge that keep this living tradition moving forward.

Person sawing a pile of cut logs with a red chainsaw, wood chips flying around outdoors
Cutting fire wood by Marcelo Guajardo
Person in gloves feeding firewood into a glowing kiln with orange light
Feeding firewood into Anagama by Marcelo Guajardo
Two people tend a glowing wood-fired kiln in a rustic wooden shed, with logs stacked beside them.

“A meaningful day at KUU, where the tradition of wood firing was present on different levels: in the form of the kiln, wood and traditional glazes; working environment, tools and master; values, skills and spirit; collaboration between students, teachers and alumni. I felt going back to my roots, being part of the realm I love and respect deeply.”

Maarit Määkelä; Photo by Seoyoung Lee
Person loading ceramic bowls into a brick kiln, black and white photo
Secret chamber by Elia von Arx
Tall brick kiln with glowing fireboxes beside a red wooden barn, wheelbarrow of wood in front
Photo by Jonna Rutanen

"It was a myriad of contradictions. It is a learning experience into a traditional ceramic making/firing technique, but it is like a summer camp with your best friends at the same time. It was hard physical labor and the irregular sleeping caused by the night shifts and sleeping in an unfamiliar place made it mentally straining too. However, the cozy location in the countryside and the nightly singing of the (thrush) nightingales and cuckoos in the nearby trees made it simultaneously an experience of grounding and recovery from the hectic city/university life." 

- Daniel Kohvakka

People working with wood and tools in a bright rustic workshop, shelves and planks around them
Photo by Seoyoung Lee

“This experience was a rather physical challenge. I cycled to the location in Mallusjoki Orimattila with a CoDe fellow student friend from Henna station. We were chosen to be on the very last shift on Sunday, which was really interesting and fun. The temperature rise up to 1300 degrees, and we witnessed some really intense fire coming out from the airholes. At the end of the process, it was the time to close the Anagama kiln airholes with clay and paper. Me and other friend operated on one side and two others closed the holes on the opposite side of the kiln.”

Jonna Rutanen
Four people sit by a kiln in a wooden shed with stacked planks and tools around them
Watching the kiln by Elia von Arx
Assorted handmade brown and beige ceramic bowls and vases on an outdoor table in sunlight
Photo by Marcelo Guajardo
Person in white shirt covering blurred face with hands, standing by a sunlit red wooden wall.
Photo by Marcelo Guajardo
Group of people outdoors examining pottery on the grass under green trees in bright sunshine
Opening day by Seoyoung Lee

Thank you to all participants for their work and support in this collaborative experience:

Students: Katariina Tuuri, Sakari Nurmi, Arsenii Chuvaev, Olivia Anttila, Roope Sysilä, Matilda Humalajoki, Heidi Naumanen, Nikke Rantanen, Viivi Hirvikangas, Maria Shilnikova, Charlotte Becker, Elia von Arx, Ene Rönkkö, Daniel Shiechl, Jonna Rutanen, Hitomi Asaka, Marcelo Guajardo, Seoyoung Lee and Daniel Kohvakka.

Staff members: Maarit Mäkelä, Tomi Pelkonen, Tatu Vuorio, Kirsti Taiviola, Priska Falin, Nathalie Lautenbacher

Studio assistant: Sandra Prami

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