Man-pot. Clay, potters wheel. 1975.
MAGICIAN FROM ZHORNYSHI
MAGICIAN FROM ZHORNYSHI is an article by Oles Dorichenko dedicated to the 100th anniversary of one of the greatest Ukrainian potters Oleksandr Ganzha. He was a unique phenomenon - a mystifier, whose ceramic sculptures amaze pleasantly carry away, they are author's eternal imagination offsprings. His deeply national artworks have something in common with artworks of artists of ancient civilizations, such as Enochs, Maya, Peruvians. In his native Zhornyschi, that is in Vinnytsia region, where generations liked to create ceramic pieces, they Oleksandr Ganzha's sculptures were not in great honor, they would jeer at and pick on this unique talent. Fear of hopelessness in life as well as asperity made elderly master turn to God. This belief became consolation for his soul. Although judging by deepness of his soul, one could say that he was rather a pantheist and pagan, terribly in love with nature and its elements. The master's sons have become artistic personalities as well, Petro is an artist and Stepan is a famous tapestry artist and poet, the NUFAMU member.
