Tbilisi, March 27, 2018

1. Close ceramic eggs

2. Mid employees of the ceramic studio placing Easter decorations

3. Close Easter decorations

4. Mid employee of the ceramic studio placing Easter eggs

5. SOUNDBITE(Georgian) Nato Eristavi, founder of White Studio:

"White Studio was established in 2013 by several artists. It was like an experiment to try reincarnate ceramics production in Georgia, because during many years factories were shut down, there were very few artists who worked in ceramics. Therefore, it was an attempt to show that by using new materials, new trends, it is possible to a Georgian product which will be of the highest quality and very interesting like products from Europe or United States for example."

6. Close ceramic Easter eggs

7. SOUNDBITE(Georgian) Nato Eristavi, founder of White Studio:

"One of the main directions for us is to revive Georgian ornaments, Georgian form and tradition and give it a new look. We try to create modern forms with Georgian elements and this is a what we call new Georgian ceramics."

8. Close hands making ceramic egg

9. Wide craftsman making ceramic egg

10. Close ceramic egg being made tilt up to craftsman

11. Mid ceramic egg being made and placed on the table

12. Close newly created ceramic egg

13. Mid the studio

14. Various of Easter decorations

15. Mid painting studio

16. Close various of painting Easter Egg with traditional Georgian ornament

17. Mid painter during work

18. Close finished Easter eggs decorated with Georgian ornament

19. Wide craftsman taking Easter egg from the mould

20. Close Easter egg being taken from the mould and placed on the table

21. Mid painting studio

22. Close various of egg being painted

23. Mid artist moulding ornaments of the clock in shape of Easter egg

24. Close hands moulding decorations

25. Mid Easter egg being painted

26. Close egg being painted

27. SOUNDBITE(Georgian) Vera Nodia, artist:

"Ceramics undergo several stages. First of all, it is moulded and given a shape then for a while it needs to dry in order to avoid any cracks and other fragile points. After, we do preliminary firing and then can apply a paint. We have a wide variety of colours we choose from. After this, the product goes through the glaze firing process."

28. Close Easter decorations before glaze firing process

29. Mid man opening kiln

30. Close ceramics after glaze firing

31. Close man removing ceramics after glaze firing zoom out to ceramics

32. Mid White Studio showroom

33. Close founder of White Studio Nato Eristavi placing Eater eggs

34. Close Easter eggs

Eggs are a traditional symbol of Easter across much of Europe, symbolising birth and renewal.

A ceramics studio in downtown Tbilisi, Georgia is reviving the traditional art of pottery and adding a modern twist.

Final touches are being made at the White Studio to offer its customers a wide variety of Easter decorations.

Ceramic eggs, bunnies, vases, egg holders an even ornaments resembling Faberge eggs are made in the studio especially for Easter collection.

The original Faberge eggs were ornate bejewelled egg-shaped works of art made for the families of Russian czars in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

White Studio was created in 2013 by several artists who had an ambitious plan to revive ceramics production in Georgia.

A once very rich history was lost after the demise of the Soviet Union when factories were closed down and only few artists were making collections in ceramics.

Nato Eristavi, was a driving force behind the idea to revive Georgian ceramic giving it a modern twist while preserving traditions.

"White Studio was established in 2013 by several artists. It was like an experiment to try reincarnate ceramics production in Georgia, because during many years factories were shut down, there were very few artists who worked in ceramics. Therefore, it was an attempt to show that by using new materials, new trends, it is possible to a Georgian product which will be of the highest quality and very interesting like products from Europe or United States for example," she explains.

Artist Vera Nodia describes the process of creating artistic ceramics.  

"Ceramics undergo several stages. First of all, it is moulded and given a shape then for a while it needs to dry in order to avoid any cracks and other fragile points. After, we do preliminary firing and then can apply a paint. We have a wide variety of colours we choose from. After this, the product goes through the glaze firing process."

Today ten artists are working in the studio, each with their own style and approach, but all of them try to promote creative possibilities of modern ceramics.