Interview with Inni Ma (hosted by Ini Ceramic)
We interviewed Inni Ma, a Korean ceramic artist living in Paris and organizer of Inni Ceramic. The interview was conducted in English, French, and Japanese.
Your work feels like a work of balance in every sense of the word.
That's something I value very much. I'm always looking for the right balance between vases as functions and vases as objects, and the same goes for Asia and Europe. I try to mix and balance both.
Have you always valued balance?
I think balance is something that happens naturally.
Were you good at balancing when you were a child?
Please, I was an extreme child. (lol)
Were you a dreaming child living in a fantasy world?
That's different.
I was able to get along with everyone normally.
yes. I had a lot of friends when I was little.
At some point, it becomes clear that I am different from everyone else, and there comes a turning point where I think about balance.
(Matthew, the interpreter, said, ``Oh, that's something I've never heard before.'') That's a good question. (Thinking for a while) Because I was stronger than other people. My desire to become an artist was so strong that it surpassed my love for Korea and my friends.
It will upset your balance.
No, it wasn't that I was unbalanced, I chose that on purpose.
It wasn't that I lost it, but that I chose it.
that's right.
At what age did you make that choice?
It was when I was 17 years old. Then, at the age of 18, I came to France.
Did you feel alienated or lonely when you came to France?
Yeah, it was difficult at first. Especially the language, French, is difficult.
It must be tough not being able to speak French in France. Were you able to talk a little?
Just super basic stuff. It was about the alphabet and my name was Inni.
I thought it was okay even if I couldn't speak the language, because I had a strong heart.
At that moment, I truly believed that I could do it.
That's because I wanted to leave Korea and go to France as soon as possible.
yes. I wanted to go right away without any doubts.
What could have made an 18-year-old girl do this? She could have done art in Korea.
Curiosity and a desire for exciting things. I want to be an artist, and as soon as I had time to spend in Korea, I thought I should go to France. The time to choose a school was decisive. Once you start going to school in Korea, you'll be there for four years.
How did you come across ceramics?
I didn't major in ceramics in college, but I've always wanted to do it. However, I didn't have that opportunity at a fine art school, so I did drawings, paintings, and installations. When I was in Paris, I shared a studio with friends, and two of my friends were making ceramics, and they had a kiln and clay, so I borrowed that and started experimenting with it.
Did it click for you as soon as you started?
yes. I loved it right away.
What was it about pottery that attracted you?
This is a place where you can quickly take shape. Ideas you come up with can quickly become products.
Do you think that speed is an irreplaceable charm?
Speed and ease. No special preparation is required; all you need is clay and you can start right away. I also like that it can be used immediately after baking.
What does pottery resemble to you?
I'm interested in glassblowing, and it might be similar to that.
Do you think there is a connection between your personality and pottery?
Maybe (laughs)
What kind of place?
My personality is like clay. It can quickly change shape depending on the situation.
How do you make it?
At first, write down your ideas quickly so you don't forget them. And start making it right away. I want to make it right away.
What inspires you? Are you influenced by real-life issues?
In fine art, I am inspired by real-world problems, but in making ceramics, I am not influenced by them.
Is it because the sensor is different?
Ceramic is a decoration. What you see is important. The purpose is to bring light into your life in order to create a wonderful daily life. For me, the two are different because art conveys a message.
Rather than conveying strong messages through art, you prefer to incorporate images of light into everyday life through ceramics.
Now it is. For me, the decoration itself is the message.
Where is the fun in decorating?
Picking flowers and bringing them indoors brings good energy from outside to inside. A vase connects you with flowers and plants, it becomes a bridge to nature and the interior.
It's fun to be between nature and people's feelings.
yes.
When I first decided to pursue fine art at the age of 17, I wouldn't have thought so.
I agree. But it's more fun now.
When you were 17 years old, you didn't know what fun was.
That's right. (lol)
Was that an influence from France?
I like France, but I don't know if that's the reason. However, I was able to follow my heart and be honest when I came to France.
That's because I was alone.
I wanted to get away from everything I knew. I wanted to be free. There were some tough times at first, but I felt free during those times.
After I started touching the soil, my thoughts changed even more.
In art, there were various taboos that made me feel closed off, but pottery was freeing. It was also nice to be able to show it directly to customers. In fine art, there is no direct connection with the audience, and it is first mediated by the teacher or gallery.
What kind of situations do you dislike and what kind of situations do you like?
I don't like being in situations where I'm being controlled.
I hate school.
That's right.
My favorite situation is when I'm hiking in the mountains.
From here on, please answer each question.
Q: Cats and dogs
Hmm, I like both. Is that okay?
Q: That's fine. morning and night
night
Q: Moon and sun
(After thinking for a while) The sun
Q: Stars and moon
Star
Q: Sea and mountains
Mountain
Q: City and countryside
I like both
Q: Neon and candles
candle
Q: Candles and moonlight
(After thinking for a while) Moonlight
Q: Water and fire
water
Q: Fog and smoke
fog
Q: Snow and rain
rain
Q: Heat and cold
(After thinking about it for a long time) I don't understand.
Q: black and white
(After thinking for a while) Black
Q: red and blue
blue
Q: Coffee and tea
black tea
Q: Dreams and fantasies
Fantasy
Q: Books and music
(after thinking about it for a while) a book
Q: Picture books and movies
movie
Q: Vases and flowers
(After thinking about it) Flowers (lol)
Q: Flowers and trees
flower
Q: Earth and water
That's a good question. soil
Q: Mind and body
heart
Q: Children and adults
child
Q: Nuts and leaves
nuts
Q: Squirrel and bear
squirrel
Q: Lion and tiger
Tiger
Q: Sports and walking
stroll
Q: Speaking and listening
To listen
Q: Singing and voice
(After thinking about it for a while) Song
Q: Right eye and left eye
Right eye (lol)
Q: Left hand and right hand
Right hand (lol)
Q: What to think and what not to think
It's too difficult. Maybe I shouldn't think about it.
Q: Letters and postcards
letter
Do you go back to Korea often?
I only went back five years ago.
Are you a mobile person or someone who stays in one place?
I prefer moving.
I can feel that in your work as well. Now for the last question. are you happy?
From before.
When did you become able to say that you were happy?
That's when I started working with ceramics.
Was there ever a time when you said you weren't happy?
I think there was.
May you be happy forever.
thank you.