03
7:30 mins
Tantri Mustika
Ceramicist
Tantri Mustika
Ceramicist
May 2020
Tantri Mustika is a Melbourne based ceramicist who makes a range of playful and stylish ceramics wares. To date her entire line is completely hand-built, this technique is distinctly different from the more commonly known ‘hand-thrown’ style of ceramics where objects have been crafted on a potter’s wheel.
While hand-building might be considered more laborious and has its own set of limitations, it also provides many freedoms when considering the final shape and finish.
Tantri’s vases possess an architectural structure to them, the defined lines of these forms are light-heartedly juxtaposed with a fun and bright scattering of colour. While her signature range may be aesthetically compared to traditional terrazzo tiling, she has undoubtedly modernised this look adapting it to bespoke forms to create functional everyday objects. Now everyone can enjoy a piece of chic terrazzo.
To add to her achievement Tantri is no other than a self-taught potter, after a lengthy 10-year career in Hairdressing she explored other creative pursuits that would enable her to make objects that would ‘last a lifetime’.
03
7:30 mins
Clay can be quite a brutal medium to work with, but I think in some ways it teaches you some life lessons…
Robusty Notes
Pottery pieces can be found everywhere. Restaurants and cafes are commissioning Potters to create functional ceramics that bring individuality to their dishes. Boutique shops and trend-setting magazines highlight ceramics as a coveted design feature. More and more people are rejecting mass-produced homeware and rediscovering the soulful nature of hand-crafted goods.
The term ‘handmade’ has become a commodity nowadays deliberately labeling products that can benefit from the allure of the word, because of this it’s sometimes is easy to forget the intrinsic value behind such a creation; the story, the human, the time spent realising the product.
There are a lot of things we like about Tantri’s story, from a lengthy career in hairdressing to designer, maker and small business owner. It’s is the ultimate quit-your-day-job-and-follow-your-dreams story (just make sure you’re willing to work damn hard for it). A story built around change, grit, and passion, through her work we have seen what amazing possibilities lie in a simple slab of clay.
For good reason Tantri’s work has become widely popular, with a unique style she offers a fresh perspective on ceramic goods. Aside from her work she is an absolute joy to be around, her bubbly persona and hard-working nature make you both instantly inspired and keen to invite her to your next dinner party.
Photography by: Dom Krapski
Special thanks to:
- Bisque Studiosbisquestudios.com
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