In times of uncertainty, memories and dreams become our most vital resources. They help to tame fear, bring order to everyday life, and foster a sense of meaning. In this room, we tell their stories through clay, drawing inspiration from the renowned Kosiv ceramics of the Hutsul region. Traditional tiles, listed by UNESCO, have for centuries adorned household stoves, serving as illustrated chronicles of everyday life – from work in the fields to joyful celebrations.
The Ukrainian tiles in the museum’s collection became a starting point for the workshop work – both as a source of forms and as a testament to ways of narrating community. These works, created during sessions with the artist Anna Polishchuk, record personal histories: afterimages of childhood and visions of the future. Within them, we find the cherry tree from a grandmother’s garden, a backyard, a lake, or a beloved pet. Together, they form an image of a world that endures in memory and imagination.
In many of the works, childhood emerges again as a sanctuary of safety. Sunlight, greenery, and warm hues prevail. These are images of simple moments: sitting by a window or spending holidays in the countryside. For many, it is a record of life before the war, which radically altered the way they think about home.
A special place is given here to the works of the youngest participants. One of them depicts mountains – a refuge discovered at the beginning of 2022. In others, animals appear – companions taken along on the journey, or the neighbourhood cats. On their tiles, children painted places of safety – those they remember, and those they imagined for themselves.
Each of these objects records what is most important in that very moment. Although these works draw on the past, they are created with an eye toward what lies ahead. This intertwining of memories with hope leads to a simple question: what do we dream of when we think of home, and what from our past do we wish to carry into the future?
Author unknown
majolica, tile-making technique, slip-trailing, sgraffito
1861, near Kosiv / Kosów, Ukraine
PME 52218
Stove tile
Author unknown
majolica, tile-making technique, slip-trailing, sgraffito
Second half of the 19th century, near Kosiv / Kosów
PME 31616
Hutsul ceramics – including the distinctive stove tiles – have been produced in the Pokuttya and Hutsul regions since at least the 19th century, closely linked to local architecture and the organization of domestic space. While the tableware served as both functional and decorative objects, the tiles helped shape the very architecture of the interior.
They were made from locally sourced fireproof clay, known as ‘stove clay,’ prepared according to time-tested recipes. This material, once shaped and fired, combined structural function with decorative purpose. The tiles – shaped in wooden molds, engraved, and painted – were not merely technical elements, but carriers of patterns and meanings.
The colour palette of Hutsul ceramics – dominated by greens, browns, yellows, and blues – resulted from both the locally available materials and the glazing techniques. The patterns emphasised the decorative character of the objects, while simultaneously visually organizing the interior space. A stove lined with decorated tiles became not only a source of warmth, but also the symbolic axis of the home.
The National Pottery School in Kolomyia (1876–1914) played a crucial role in the development of the region’s ceramics, introducing refined clay-working techniques, new glazes, and patterns, while also influencing tile production.
Activities:
- Design your tile and add it to the kiln. What would you like to remember? What do you dream of when you think about home? Join us in constructing a wall brimming with stories.
