Earth Memories
Earth Memories is an experiential record of Serifos, translated into the language of ceramics. Rather than simply representing the landscape, the work incorporates the island’s own materials into the body of the clay.
The creative process begins with the incorporation of materials and minerals sourced from Serifos. These elements do not function merely as decoration; they penetrate the stoneware clay body, becoming a structural part of the sculpture itself.
The surface of the work becomes a journey through time. The clay is dug into and carved during the forming process, revealing the embedded rocks and the island’s rich geological history.
The colour palette seeks to evoke the authentic earth of Serifos. Deep reds, oxidised browns and earthy yellows come from the island’s own rocks and sand, which are used as natural pigments.
The gradation of colours and textures creates a visual narrative: from the roughness of the upper surface, where the rocks remain exposed, to the darker areas that evoke the island’s rugged cliffs as they descend into the sea.
Earth Memories is an intimate testimony to a dialogue between the art of clay and the island itself.
- Stoneware clay (black and red), rocks and sand from Serifos (natural pigments)
- Rocks embedded in the clay body, slips and rocks from Serifos, natural oxidation
Theodoros Galigalidis
Theodoros Galigalidis
Thodoris Galigalidis is a ceramic artist and educator with many years of experience in the field of contemporary ceramic art. His practice focuses on creating objects in high-fired stoneware clay, with a particular interest in developing his own handmade glazes through continuous experimentation with materials.
His artistic research draws inspiration from nature, the earth, and the transformations brought about by fire. His work combines organic forms, natural textures, and subtle colour variations that emerge through the interaction of clay, mineral elements, and the firing process.
He also has a particular interest in alternative firing techniques, including Raku, Naked Raku, Obvara, and Saggar Firing, in which fire, smoke, and natural elements actively contribute to shaping the final surfaces of his works.
He has extensive teaching experience, having worked for many years as a ceramics instructor at the KETHEA “ITHAKI” rehabilitation centre, where he used ceramics as a means of creative expression and personal development.
He has participated in international symposia, exhibitions, and workshops in countries including China, Australia, Lebanon, Turkey, and Cyprus, engaging in an ongoing dialogue with diverse ceramic traditions and artists from around the world.
Today, he continues his artistic research through the creation of contemporary ceramic works. At his studio in Thessaloniki, he offers ceramics classes as well as specialised workshops focusing on alternative firing techniques.