Gaya Ceramics
“We want to preserve and promote craftsmanship, implementing the understanding and the appreciation of the ceramic’s “handmade” process.”
So honored that founder of Gaya Ceramic Marcello and Michela agreed to do this piece about them! As a long time admirer of Gaya Ceramic’s work and customer I am excited for you to learn more about why I love these guys and why I recommend you purchasing a piece of their work for your own homes or visit their showroom once travel is allowed again!
Curito:
Marcello and Michela! Where in Italy were you originally from and what brought you two to pack up and move to Bali in 2001?
Marcello & Michela:
We started our ceramic activity in 1990 in Piacenza a small town 50km south Milan. We lived in a little farm studio in our hometown countryside in where we started making ceramic.
In 2001 during “Salone del Mobile” exhibition, we met Stefano Grandi, an Italian entrepreneur from Reggio Emilia, who invited me and my wife come to Bali and he sponsored the inception of Gaya Ceramic.
Curito:
Did you both have a background in ceramic and sculpture design?
Marcello & Michela:
Michela’s background is sculpture … she graduated in Accademia di Brera in Milan. I graduated with a degree in Political Science from Milan’s State University, but I studied ceramic in many international ceramic academies and with many international ceramic masters.
Curito:
How did you guys decide upon the creation of Gaya Ceramics focusing primarily on custom ceramic collections then building up to a retail shop, art center and even an ice cream shop in a foreign country!
Marcello & Michela:
When we first arrived in Bali in 2001 we had no idea how to make it work … our priority was trying to set up a professional studio, to train personnel, to find reliable materials, to make some good pots etc … all very practical issues. No major strategies or marketing visions. Then, we realized that there was a market niche in the hospitality business. High-end hotels and restaurants needs to be unique and they are always looking for custom designs. Therefore, we started to custom make exclusive collections based on client’s aesthetic and functional necessities.
“We learnt that passion (kinda obsession) and resilience are the keys of success”
The requests were extremely diverse so we decided to use any possible ceramic techniques in order to match the visual and practical requirements of our clientele. The retail shop was a natural happening due to the many requests of our friends and visitors, Irina Pampararo joined us in 2014 to help in this direction as well to form the sales channel within the company organization. Gaya Ceramic Arts Center is a project of an old dream.
Gaya Ceramic mission is naturally to create ceramic objects but we also wanted to preserve and promote craftsmanship, implementing the understanding and the appreciation of the “hand-made” process. Because of that, we wanted to provide educational services and artistic support for ceramic culture. We always had this idea in mind but they never had sufficient help or resources to implement the project.
When we met Hillary Kane in 2009, we firstly welcomed her in Gaya’s studio as “artist in residence” and then we shared the dream of creating a “tropical” ceramic academy along with the establishment of a solid ceramic local community. Hillary embraced the idea in full, and with her precious and fundamental help, Gaya Ceramic Arts Center was created. Gaya Ice Cream is not our business but our other partner’s one. We just share the same name and logo!
“We believe that home accessories have a great power in creating aesthetic value, beauty, intimacy and personal meaning”
Curito:
When you think back on the 19 years since you guys started your company what were some of the biggest challenges you encountered setting the business up and what did you guys learn from it?
Marcello & Michela:
Back then everything was a big challenge. We arrived in Bali without any entrepreneur’s background, lacking of local culture’s understanding, foreigner languages deficiency (Michela was not even speaking English), zero suppliers and clients connections … but we were (and still are) driven by passion.
We learnt that passion (kinda obsession) and resilience are the keys of success.
“Production waste is a problem and we want to consciously find a solution.”
Curito:
How has the business landscape changed in Bali? Do you see more foreigners coming in to set up similar businesses like yours or do you think you still hold a unique niche space?
Marcello & Michela:
Setting up a business in Bali is becoming more and more difficult while bureaucracy and requirements are now more complex and strict. There are other ceramic operations in Bali but no one can compete with our creativity and technical variety. We have and hold a niche space while we create unique, special and inimitable objects.
Curito:
What tips and suggestions would you give to other foreigners who want to set up a business in Bali and succeed.
Marcello & Michela:
Appreciate and fully accept the Balinese culture as part of your business, follow the rules and be resilient.
Curito:
How has covid affected Gaya and your community? Are you creating new pivots due to the current situation?
Marcello & Michela:
We applied strict procedures (shifts, masks, distance etc) and these new methods slowed down a bit of our capacity but, so far, we have been able to operate with full staff and full salaries thanks to a line of orders to deliver and a healthy financial backbone.
Curito:
What inspires you guys to continue to do what you do with Gaya Ceramics and the community you have built!
Marcello & Michela:
Our main inspiration are our colleagues, workmates and clients. We enjoy coming to work every day because of them. It is like hanging around with friends rather than going to work … and this is fun, inspiring and motivating.
Curito:
What are some of your goals for this new decade?
Marcello & Michela:
We are already kinda happy … we don’t want to grow more but we want to make our organization stronger and more controlled. We are also trying to create a new system to upcycle our leftovers and rejects … production waste is a problem and we want to consciously find a solution.
Curito:
For those who are just learning about Gaya Ceramics how can we follow your offerings and reach out to learn about customize collaborations and purchasing?
Marcello & Michela:
Instagram is the social media platform we use the most. Then for any specific request of products or collaboration just drop us an email info@gayaceramic.com
First published on July 5, 2020
