"A simple yet profound way to let go of resistance and trust the flow of life. To unconditionally accept the present moment."
— Eckhart Tolle
"Surrender" is a project about the moment one lets go of control and opens up to what comes next. The artist establishes the initial form—shaping a vessel and filling it with liquid clay—then steps back to let the material act on its own. She creates the conditions but does not dictate the outcome. This is not an abandonment of authorship, but rather a different way of being an author: through trust in the process.
In each work, two intentions meet: that of the artist and that of the clay itself. From this encounter, a form emerges—one that could not have been conceived in advance.
The Process
The vessels in the project are simple and familiar—bowls, plates, and bottles—deliberately stripped of decoration. The moisture in the slip gradually alters the structural integrity of the walls as internal pressure builds. A crack appears, the form opens up, and the clay spills out, spreading and flowing between neighboring objects. At a certain point, the vessel yields, ceasing to be what it once was. Firing then captures this moment, transforming soft clay into hard ceramic.
Ceramics preserve the outcome, photography freezes a single instant, and video restores the dimension of time to the process. Together, they form a unified installation in which unfired clay, finished objects, photographs, and video reveal the various states of a single process.
What it’s about
Surrendering does not mean losing. The word usually implies defeat. In spiritual philosophy—specifically in the teachings of Tolle—it signifies ceasing to struggle against what is already unfolding. The installation traces a journey from boundaries, walls, and the attempt to maintain form toward openness and a dialogue with the material. Duality. The structure of the vessel and the fluidity of the slip resemble yin and yang: opposing forces that complement rather than exclude one another. The final object emerges from their interaction.
Openness and love. To make a connection, one must allow the inner self to step beyond its own boundaries. A crack in the vessel becomes a symbol of vulnerability and intimacy. This echoes Erich Fromm’s idea of love: a force that breaks down the walls between people while preserving the integrity of each individual.
Ego and observation. Once the artist has done all she can, her task shifts: it is no longer about making corrections, but about being present and accepting whatever emerges. It means letting go of the need to have the final word.
"Dialogue is impossible without openness. And openness is always linked to vulnerability. To enter into dialogue, one must step beyond the limits of one’s own boundaries."
— Anastasia Egorova
"Surrender" invites the viewer to pause and dwell in silence, where there is no need to make decisions or exert control. One can simply observe as the familiar fades away and something emerges that did not exist a moment before.
