Morra Ceramics: Preserving Ukrainian Stories Through Art

Morra Ceramics, a Ukrainian feminist ceramics project founded by Anastasia Vishynakova and Yana Guselnikova, is a testament to the enduring power of art in the face of war and displacement. Forced to flee their home in Kharkiv due to the Russian invasion, Nastya and Yana found solace and purpose in their craft. They established a new base in Zagreb,Croatia, where they restarted their ceramic and community workshops.

Through their participation in Magic Carpets, Morra Ceramics connected with other Ukrainian citizens and created the project “Life Pause.” This collaborative project captures the stories and experiences of Ukrainians who fled the war and found temporary refuge in Croatia, transforming them into tangible ceramic objects.

How did you come across the Magic Carpets platform; what was the introduction to the project like?

In March 2022, we met with members of LAB852, who are part of the Magic Carpets platform. Having recently fled to Croatia due to the full-scale invasion, we felt compelled to share our experiences and contribute to the conversation about the war. We shared our ideas with the LAB852 team, and they helped us develop and refine our project. LAB852 provided invaluable support throughout the realization of our first serious art project.

Could you share a bit about the process of creating your work “Life Pause” in 2022?

We decided to combine ceramics, plants, history, and war into a single piece. Together with Ukrainian participants, we explored the stories of different plants found on Hvar Island. Participants chose a plant that resonated with them, and as we imprinted the plants into the clay, each person shared their personal story of evacuation. This was the heart of the project. After creating the handmade pieces, we combined them into a single work and placed it on a street. Passersby could see a piece of clay with imprinted plants and a QR code that they could scan. By scanning the code, people could read a story about the plant and the person who created it. Through this, we aimed to raise awareness about the ongoing war and the fact that many people who fled their country are still living among us, while others try to ignore the situation.

How has the Magic Carpets platform impacted your artistic process – in regards to connecting to communities and opening up in that way?

When we evacuated, the Magic Carpets platform was the first to offer us the opportunity to express our emotions through art. In the process of creating and giving birth to the idea of starting a new family here in Croatia, we connected with the people who took part in the project.

What message would you like to share with the visitors and followers of the Magic Carpets platform and the exhibition Superorganism in Tartu 2024?

Almost two and a half years have passed since the start of the full-scale invasion. We’ve all been on pause for a long time. During this time, the lives of everyone who left Ukraine have changed significantly. Some couldn’t live away from home and returned. Others began building a life from scratch in another country. People who love Ukraine are a superorganism. We were forced out of our comfort zone and were unsure how to proceed, but we are trying to continue to live for the future that we and Ukraine can have. We are still on pause because many of us cannot return home, but we continue to fight. We are still on pause because we are waiting. This exhibition is a reminder that, in addition to the ordinary people who live their lives, there are people like us who are stuck between home and time.