The sculptural power of the Ukrainian designer’s organic ceramics is reaching new audiences through an exhibition at Les Ateliers Courbet in New York
Photography courtesy of Les Ateliers Courbet and Serhii Makhno
Words by Alia Akkam
Serhii Makhno’s meditative lighting, furniture and accessories are imbued with a raw beauty, a wabi-sabi sheen coupled with a reverence for the flora and fauna of his native Ukraine. When Melanie Courbet, founder of the gallery Les Ateliers Courbet in New York’s West Chelsea neighbourhood, first discovered the Kyiv-based designer and artist’s oeuvre online, she was immediately moved, she recalls, by ‘the materiality of Serhii’s textured ceramics, the organic and sculptural nature of his designs. There’s a great overlap between our inspirations. We are both drawn to and fascinated by Japanese culture, the philosophical ethos and craftsmanship discipline that are embodied in the design aesthetic.’
Given Courbet’s enticement by Makhno’s explorations, the duo collaborated remotely over the past few years on a series of dreamy yet functional hand-modelled works that are on display at Les Ateliers Courbet, a space dedicated to ensembles from master artisans around the globe. ‘There is a hint of humour, playfulness and a hopeful spirit in this collection. It’s also rooted in Serhii’s deep love for and attachment to the land, the earth of his country,’ Courbet adds.
These collectibles were all made at the Makhno Studio ceramics workshop against the backdrop of a raging war. For Courbet, who watched Makhno and his team exude ‘an unshakable focus, positivism and exemplary productivity’ in the midst of this ongoing turbulence, as she puts it, it was a great lesson in humility.
Photography courtesy of Serhii Makhno featuring Serhii Makhno
Along with such creations as the cloud-shaped Khmara lamp, the blobby, cocooning Duta Puzata chair, and the Tymchasove mirror, which sprouts from a surrealist, bone-like base, there is the monolithic Ulamok bench table, for example, a reference to the surge of debris left in the wake of Russian rockets that deliberately underscores the last two years of tragic events unfolding in Ukraine.
Makhno established his eponymous multidisciplinary practice spanning architecture, interiors and industrial and product design in 2003, and this new range, he points out, represents his journey beyond the traditional confines of gallery settings. ‘It is not merely creating visually striking pieces but about crafting objects that seamlessly integrate into the rhythm of daily existence. Each piece can find a meaningful place within the intimate spaces where people live, work and connect.’
That they were produced as bombs fell, air raid sirens squealed and droves of Ukrainians fled for safe borders is especially poignant. ‘It is here in Kyiv that the artistic community not only perseveres but emerges even more robustly,’ explains Makhno. ‘They are alchemists, transforming pain into poignant expressions, turmoil into timeless works and despair into hope. The decision to place a spotlight on Kyiv is an invitation to witness the power of art in the face of adversity, reinforcing the age-old adage that, indeed, from the darkest times, the greatest works are born.’
Photography courtesy of Les Ateliers Courbet and Serhii Makhno
Through his ceramics, Makhno sought to evoke a comforting, grounding feeling. ‘In the context of our contemporary world, characterised by unprecedented levels of instability and uncertainty, these artworks take on a significant role as stabilisers. Much like anchors in tumultuous seas, they provide a sense of constancy and protection,’ he says.
‘The tangible weight and density of the ceramics act as metaphors for the emotional weight carried by individuals in our rapidly changing global landscape. They become a visual testament to the resilience required to navigate the complexities of our times.’