Niko Mankinen

Niko Mankinen – I consider myself a ceramic artist or sculptor more than a potter. I mainly build but also do some casting. Wood firing has been an important and dear part of making ceramic art for me and I have taken part in firings in Guldagergaard Denmark and in the Glass and ceramics center Kuu in Finland. The fact that you cannot completely control the outcome is the most interesting aspect in wood firing, but also the communal atmosphere in firings is something I always look forward to. Working on art in general reminds me a lot of playing what we used to do when we were kids. You build to create stories and scenarios that know no boundaries. Couple of years now I have worked as a part time ceramics teacher in schools that give basic art education.