Elysia Athanatos

This ceramic artwork is made from red Cypriot earthenware clay, with the interior lined in real gold. It is a fragment of a larger project that began in 2016, exploring the feeling of “emptiness” and how one might overcome it—a line of research that has led her practice in many directions. In this piece, the vessel is shaped on the potter’s wheel, allowing Athanatos to work on both the inner and outer body simultaneously. Her primary focus lies in the inner empty space that is created. Gold is then used as a means of filling this void with light. In alchemy, the vessel is considered a symbol of the soul, and gold represents purity. Through clay, she discovers the union between matter and spirit.

UNTITLED

Vessel Red Cypriot Clay with Gold