Marina Wahbeh
My work draws on functional forms inspired by traditional pottery and brassware from the Levant region, using minimal symbolism to express Palestinian cultural endurance. Through vessels intended for use, such as teapots, serving forms, and everyday wares, I explore identity as something lived, shared, and continually reshaped across generations. Drawn to atmospheric surfaces, achieved through reduction-cooled soda-firings, I view the interactions of flame, soda ash, and clay as a visual metaphor for Palestinian endurance, mirroring the unpredictable nature of life experienced by the Palestinian people. As the clay withstands intense heat to emerge strengthened, so too does cultural identity persist through generations of adversity.
The olive branch stands as a testament to peace and perseverance, holding cultural significance as a symbol of Palestinian identity and heritage. Olive trees illustrate the resilience of Palestine, with the roots of the tree understood as the people’s ties to the land, while the branches reflect the displacement endured by generations. I strive to combine this culturally significant imagery with an atmospheric surface, allowing the two finishes to complement one another. I am drawn to forms such as teapots and serving vessels that intend to bring people together, inviting others to experience my culture through the pots I make. By combining atmospheric surfaces with minimal symbolic decoration, I aim to create works that express emotion and share culture. My practice is rooted in the values of community, family, perseverance, and self-reliance. Through functional ceramics, I seek to foster moments of connection through objects that invite use and reflection.
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