Did you know that Mozambican pottery is an ancient art and the pottery is backed in holes on the ground? The “4 elements” project wishes to disclose the traditional handcrafted ceramics and fuse them with modern techniques in order to increase their stiffness and therefore their versatility.
Do you really know Mozambican crafts?
Whenever we speak of Mozambican crafts, we immediately think of blackwood and batiks, but it never occurs to us to think of Mozambique handcrafted ceramics, which are generally produced by women. These women have been transmitting their art and the various traditions of the African Iron Age (extracting the clay, shaping objects and baking them in the wholes dug in the ground), knowledge and way of working with two thousand years. These ceramics are usually sold by men on the road side and its fragility prevents them to be transported/sold elsewhere.
The "4 elements art" project wishes to disclose the traditional handcrafted ceramics and fuse them with modern techniques in order to increase their stiffness and therefore their versatility. Increasing the ceramics market will be an economic asset not only for the artisans but also to their families and communities since it will create jobs and diminish their poverty condition. Dare to read this project to the end and contribute to its implementation and who knows, if in a year from now you don’t own a copy of the Mozambican ceramics and feel that you have contributed to the improvement of many families lives.
What is the "4 elements Art"?
The ceramist Teresa Rodrigues, will travel to Mozambique in order to start the project that is expected to last one year. The travel is scheduled for June, depending on the success of the funding process.
Initially, Teresa will learn the traditional handmade techniques and organize an exhibition of the artisans’ work, entitled "4 elements Art" (month 6)
In a second moment a studio will be set up to test the compatibility of the clay extracted by the artisans with glazes, stains and oxides, commonly used by Teresa, to improve the final properties of the ceramics. The plan is to have the village potters molding, pressing and working the feedstock in the village, in the traditional way and then transport them to the studio in order to be glazed, painted and backed in an electric oven (instead of the usual firewood cooking)
The improved ceramic products will be presented in a second exhibition named "Fusion of knowledge with fire" in an attempt to captivate business people from hospitality industry, restoration, architecture, etc. in order to enable the creation of new jobs. (month 12)
Sustainable Management and Development Cooperation.
This project is founded on the pillars of sustainable management of natural and human resources and of development cooperation. In parallel with the marketing concerns, the improvement of the potters and their family’s quality of life (through training and job creation) and the preservation of Mozambican culture and identity are crucial for this project. Therefore Kutsemba - Development and Cooperation Association participate in this project, helping it to be sustainable, fair and promoter of the development of the communities involved.
Why we need your help?
This project has cost associated with transportation of materials of higher volume/weight, acquisition of supplies and subsistence for staying in Mozambique foe a year, here`s where your contribution goes:
1- Equipment transport ----€1500
( estimated value for 400kg of material)
- Muffle, prensa, easel painting, drawing board, brushes, drawing material, etc.
2- Acquisition of the products---€699
( proforma invoice attached)
Glazed, dyes, rust, fast wear material ( bruches, drawing materials)
3- Payment of expenses in Mozambique (one year)----€1500
( trip to Mozambique will be funded by Teresa)
Total budget: €3700
With your donation, you can make this project a reality and still receive fantastic and unique. If the full amount of the funding is not achieved the funds will be returned to supporters and no one will receive fantastic rewards, so help us divulgate this project via your facebook, friends, neighbords, etc!
The rewards shipping costs to outside Portugal will be imputed to the supporter.
