Agnieszka Synak, sculptor
I studied art in university in Poland and specialised in ceramic sculpture. I am working at the moment for a pottery company, but not making things. I work as a sales assistant in the Louis Mulcahy shop in Dawson Street. Pottery is more like a hobby for me and I have started teaching an art workshop in Trinity. I use one of the oldest techniques in ceramics, which is coil-building. My pieces are hand-built in coils, not slabs, and then they are smoothed by hand. I don't do huge stuff because it has to fit in the kiln in Trinity.
My shapes are inspired by the human shape. I am quite proud of the work that I've been doing for the past few months. One is a group of three figures. They all have a woman's shape, I suppose. I'm more into the female shape for some reason. I might start out with something else in mind but it's always coming out. It's a more interesting shape I suppose.
I love teaching. People very often think they have no idea how to use clay - that they are complete beginners - but once they start they see how therapeutic it is to work with your hands. It's very relaxing, whether you do pottery or modelling with clay.
I did very little work in the arts area since I came to Ireland. I've had so many different jobs in the past few years.
There is a big interest in unique ceramics and there is definitely a market for them. I would like to have an exhibition but, and I know this sounds a bit weird, it wouldn't be a commercial exhibition. I would just like to see how people view my work. I know from talking to artists that waiting for gallery space in the city centre is madness. And for this kind of work, small ceramic sculptures, you need a special place where they won't be lost.
I never really planned to make a living as an artist, when I was studying, although lots of people did. I do my work and at some stage I will have to get rid of them - they are beginning to pile up in my house. They are like my children and it would be strange to think of someone taking one of my sculptures and putting them in their own house.
In conversation with Catherine Cleary.