Before Maxi Hoffmann, who was born in Chemnitz, decided to pursue pottery and make Düsseldorf her home, she first ventured out into the world, living in New Zealand, London and Amsterdam, among other places. In 2018, she founded her label Hap Ceramics and has been producing handmade, modern ceramics in sometimes unusual shapes ever since. Maxi Hoffmann finds inspiration for her products everywhere, but she is particularly influenced by art, product design, graphic design and architecture. She reduced her job as a marketing manager so that she could create physical products with her own hands alongside her desk work.

Her creative process begins with a drawing. Hoffmann then translates this idea onto the potter's wheel. She always leaves room for her feelings to influence the process. This often results in new forms that were previously planned quite differently. The work has an almost meditative character: turning the clay forces her to remain calm and concentrate. "That's good, because I'm usually a rather restless type," says Hoffmann. Chance always plays a role in glazing. At 1,220 degrees, the raw materials melt and react with each other; it takes around 24 hours from switching on the kiln to opening it. Only then does it become clear exactly how the colour or texture of the glaze will turn out. In her studio in Unterbilk, she creates bowls, cups and vases. When it comes to design, Hoffmann likes to combine smooth surfaces with rough surfaces. Her deformed vases, which appear unusually asymmetrical due to their crushed appearance, are currently in high demand.

www.hap-ceramics.com

Photography Credits:

abracradam
Damian Rosellen

(Featured in CUBE Düsseldorf 01|20)