In 2025, architect Maria Bjuhr and ceramic artist Mira Kysinger met in a cross-disciplinary residency at KKAM in Höganäs. Ten intensive days of work were filled with ideas, techniques, and ambitions – leading to a collaboration that surprised them both. Through clay, a dialogue unfolded about encounters, spaces in between, and material.
The project takes its starting point in ornamentation – a part of the architectural tradition that has largely been rationalized away. Ornament is often something extra, a decoration without function, a glimpse of abundance and desire. It reflects care for a building, for places and spaces. The questions raised include: What might ornament look like today? Can the classical ornament be reinterpreted in new forms?
The method used was inspired by the “folded drawing” – a process familiar to many from childhood. One person draws a head on a sheet of paper, folds it over, and passes it on. The next person continues by drawing the torso, without knowing what the head looks like. The only clear thing is the point of connection. In a similar way, Bjuhr and Kysinger worked from a shared profile where their individual parts met to form a whole.
The result is a series of works that bear traces of surprise. Within them, the dialogue becomes visible – as does the silence between – an ornament born out of the encounter, in between two expressions and materials.
Participants
Mira Kysinger Lowejko holds a Bachelor’s degree in Ceramic Art from HDK-Valand. Formerly based in Tyringe, she now lives and works in Härnösand. Her artistic practice is characterized by repetition, movement, rhythm, and an interest in the body’s relationship to space.
Maria Bjuhr is an architect with a degree from Lund University (LTH) and is based in Malmö. During her thesis work, she began exploring clay in relation to architecture, and her design practice revolves around how the material interacts with structure, joining, and texture.
About KKAM
KKAM is a merger of Höganäs Museum and the Ceramic Center, and has provided the residents with workspace, artistic and technical guidance, as well as resources for production and deeper exploration of ceramic craft. As part of the residency, KKAM also organized two study trips to the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen.
About Konsthantverkscentrum
Konsthantverkscentrum is the only professional organization for craft artists in Sweden, with offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Its more than 800 members are promoted through public events, exhibitions, and mediation initiatives, and are supported through coaching, skills development, and networking opportunities.