Terra Cognita. River Valley 02 (2024) Original Clay Sculpture by Maryia Virshych

"Terra Cognita. River Valley 02" is crafted from black groggy stoneware, hand-formed and given a subtly porous texture. Multiple layers of pigments are sprayed at varying angles, finished with a metallic bronze glaze that gives the piece a velvety, lush-green texture.

High-fired at 1250°C, it is 100% water-resistant. Made by hand with premium stoneware sourced locally around Barcelona, it includes a wooden stretcher on the back for wall mounting.

The Terra Cognita series draws inspiration from aerial footage of isolated landscapes. From the satellite’s view, mining quarries and salt flats are nearly indistinguishable, appearing equally desolate yet captivating. This series doesn’t seek to build hierarchies but instead documents these phenomena side by side, exploring how the landscape genre can evolve to reflect the complex relationship between humanity and nature.

Reproducing these images in clay gives tangible form to remote terrains, often inaccessible or even illegal to approach. Mounted on a wall within arm's reach, these works evoke complex feelings of landscape—longing, nostalgia, and unease—as they quietly declare, “I was here,” inviting viewers to connect with the unknown.

Materials used:

Ceramic: Stoneware, Glazes

Details:

• Clay sculpture on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 56 x 34 x 5cm (unframed)
• Ready to hang
• Signed certificate of authenticity
• Style: Organic
• Subject: Abstract and non-figurative