Q&A with Sophia Hatzikos

Briefly describe your thesis project.
I have always been fascinated by water — spaces that hold water, spaces where I’m able to access water, utilitarian ways of controlling water. My thesis project is an installation of sculpted relief tiles that are emblematic of a sensorial experience of being in water. I felt very strongly about using ceramic tile as an homage to the landscape, to culture, and particularly in their relationship to water, as they’re this magical material that can release or hold, propel or contain water.

What do you hope someone feels when they experience your work?
In many ways the work is my own recollection of time, my path, my motion, my body. I hope my work is a poetic translation of a landscape and of time that people can lay their own experience onto. I wanted to make something that people are able to walk into — to be close, to be far, to be longing. Water has this vastness that is so big and hard to contain, but I feel that everyone shares a common memory and identity with water.

Did you always know this would be your final project?
I had planned to work on a really different project, but things changed when I spent several weeks last summer swimming in the sea. I call it “sweet time,” when the water buoys you and your only sense of time is the sun passing overhead. As I thought about the water and landscape I was immersed in, I decided that what really mattered was exploring the longing and distance from a place I’m no longer able to access.

What has been surprising as you’ve worked on this project?
I had never really worked with ceramics at this scale before this project. Learning the process, the time, and the labor has been very eye-opening.

What was your path to becoming an artist like?
I think art has some magic to it because of its interdisciplinary nature and its ability to bring so many different people together. I explored other paths, but I try to follow my gut. Eventually, it all kind of lined up and art just felt right.

If you could go back to your first day in this program, what would you tell yourself?
Trust the process. There are so many ups and downs, and it’s okay to break down what you know and build something else up. Let fresh air in and breathe.