Júlia de Hoji Ceramics: silence, clay and the beauty of the essential
There are vocations that begin before we know how to name them. In the case of Júlia Hoji, they started in a small pottery studio in the Gràcia neighbourhood, when she was barely a child and her mother enrolled her in after-school classes.
Tell us about yourself and your work. Where did your vocation start? Any first memories?
When I was little, my mum enrolled me in pottery classes at a small workshop in the Gràcia district. I remember enjoying those classes enormously. I went for six years and was always very drawn to the potter's wheel, although they wouldn't let me touch it because I was too small.
It wasn't until many years later that I signed up for pottery wheel classes and I loved the experience. From then on, organically, I took more courses, rented a space in a co-working studio, started receiving orders and also teaching classes in a workshop. I even travelled to Japan to learn with a Japanese ceramicist. All of this happened over the course of eight years. Now I have my own workshop in the Clot neighbourhood, where I work as a production of utility items, I teach classes and organise courses with ceramic artists from elsewhere.
What do you find most satisfying about your work, and is there anything you are particularly proud of?
What I enjoy most is working with my hands, being in a workshop doing something creative and physical, and being able to see a piece through from start to finish. Being self-employed is tough, but it also has its positives: you can organise your time however you like, and that gives you a lot of freedom. It makes me feel in control of my work and my time.
What is your creative process like, what are your sources of inspiration, any particular music while working?
Lately, I’ve really been enjoying doing vases. For years I focused on tableware, but now I fancy creating more decorative pieces. As for inspiration, I'm inspired by everything. It could be a trip, a texture, an object I see on the street... anything.
I used to listen to music in the workshop, but lately I love working in silence. I really appreciate the quiet because at home with two children there is always a lot of noise, and the workshop has become a haven of calm.
Favourite colour, book, film and record - in that order! ;D
Is your home a reflection of who you are? Tell us what it smells like, your favourite corner, your favourite decorative object or piece of furniture, if you treasure a collection... And if you have a pet, introduce it to us!
My favourite spot is the kitchen. We recently knocked down a wall, so now the whole space is open to the living room, which means I can cook whilst my children draw or play. We fitted the cabinet fronts using Cubro and it looks lovely.
I have loads of printed photos – they take up almost an entire cupboard – because I love photographs. I’m fascinated by animals, but we live in a flat and I’d never keep pets here. If we ever live in the countryside, perhaps I might. For now, the only experience we’ve had was an ant farm that my daughter Rita asked for on her fifth birthday. The ants lasted less than a month.
If you could buy anything right now and take it home, what would it be? Anything!
A vase by Kansai Noguchi. It is a desire that has to do with admiration and aesthetic consistency: Japan is part of my history and my work.
A great plan at home always includes...
Cooking and playing board games. We’ve been playing a lot of Dixit recently when friends come round for dinner. I love seeing how the after-dinner chat drags on with made-up stories and laughter.
Do you have a signature dish?
I love cooking, although I’m not a great cook. My dishes are quite simple, but I really enjoy going to the market and choosing fresh produce. For me, the pleasure lies more in the process than in the complexity of the dish.
Where is your favourite place in your city and abroad?
In Barcelona I really like walking around the Gothic Quarter and the Raval first thing in the morning, when there are few people around. I lived in London for ten years and I love going back to visit. Asia fascinates me and I'd love to be able to go more often. My family on my father's side are from Hong Kong and I consider myself a huge fan of that city and its food.
Anything you want to tell us that we haven't asked you, speak now or forever hold your peace!
I think what best defines me is this blend of craftsmanship and calm. Between the noise of the home and the silence of the workshop. Between the utilitarian and the beautiful. Making ceramics allows me to live in that balance and makes me feel fulfilled.
Making pottery for Julia It is, in short, a way of connecting with herself and with others, of transforming something as humble as clay into objects that grace everyday life with delicacy and poetry. It is in this union of craftsmanship, creativity and freedom that the essence of her work and her way of life lies.
