#sparkchamber 010118 — Maya Muchawsky Parnas

On this bright and shiny first day of a fresh new year, we welcome Jerusalem-based artist Maya Muchawsky Parnas to our #sparkchamber. Maya works mostly with ceramic materials, and teaches at the Ceramics and Glass Department at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem. 

In her work, she tries to convey various expressions of time, of temporariness, of presence and absence. Age, or the passage of time, is something that is very difficult to grasp, an abstract concept. By translating it into a measurable amount, an object with a physical presence in space, it makes it easier to comprehend what time is. Drawing inspiration from her domestic surroundings — objects that have accompanied her for a long time; the view, the landscape she sees from her balcony in Jerusalem; some small thing that triggers a memory — she looks to capture the emotional connection of being, of passing through time.

Maya is in process of curating an exhibit at Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center. We will send out an update when more details are available. In the meantime, walk through one of her installations via the CultureBuzz Ultimate Exhibition Guided Tour.

1.] Where do ideas come from?

My ideas usually come from observing my surrounding: objects, landscape, etc., and they usually come when I am doing the most boring activities, like washing the dishes or driving.

2.] What is the itch you are scratching? 

I think my main drive is the curiosity to see how an abstract idea turns into a concrete thing.  
 
3.] Early bird or night owl, tortoise or hare? 

Undoubtedly a tortoise (but a persistent one!). Early bird or night owl? hmmm... unfortunately due to family obligations and so on, I’ve been forced to be an early bird for many years, but I think my natural tendency would be a night owl.

4.] How do you know when you are done?

Great question. I think things can go on forever (and some actually do!). At the end of the day, I think it’s the deadline that concludes the project; It’s like an exterior force that decides for you.