Грънчарският „рай“ на Петър Гигов – в пространството между две културни технологии
The Pottery “Heaven” of Petar Gigov – on the Intersection between Two Cultural Technologies

Summary/Abstract: Following the artistic and the personal biography of the prominent potter Petar Gigov, the author examines the basic events, impositions, innate collisions and outer influences on his inner self. They have played an important role in his specific formation as a bearer of the local pottery traditions in the village of Busintsi. Gigov is a third generation potter who has learned the craft from a well-known master from the town of Samokov. At the same time he graduated the State Ceramic School. Being influenced by some well-known Bulgarian artists, having received solid and modern education, having developed his own aspirations, he made serious efforts to find his own niche in the contemporary Bulgarian ceramics. Nevertheless, the turbulent social, economic and cultural conditions in the country immediately after 1944 forced him to settle back in his native village and gradually made him turn back to the local pottery making. Deeply believing in its artistic qualities, engaging himself in its collection and preservation, having substantially contributed for the reconstruction of its history, he also creates it. Gigov finds suitable to apply his knowledge about silicate production in his creative work and thus contributes to the development and modernization of the local tradition. The latter is a serious counter-argument against the understanding that he is a relic figure of a traditional master. Gigov’s life history and artistic biography place him on the margins of cultural and technological development. The author of the article pays special attention to the analysis of his utilization of both craftsmanship and industrial technologies. She advocates that his importance and uniqueness lays in his abilities to find and to experience their intersections.

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