Christina Toimela finds a creative spirit with a love for clay

I was at a house party in Hove, where one of the most interesting guests was a smart city girl. Banu Bal, a petite Turkish lady from Ankara with eyes as dark as coal and opinions as sharp as needles. She was a woman with attitude, and she knew where she was heading. At the age of 11 she started making ceramics and decided to follow the artistic footsteps of her father who was a clothing designer. We quickly became flatmates and friends, supporting one another’s creative dreams.

When I moved out I told Banu to let me know when she got her pottery studio so I could write about her journey. One year later Banu joined the Borderline Studio and we sat there drinking coffee and eating biscuits. “You told me not to eat too many biscuits and to go the gym,” says Banu.

“Did I really say that? Surely not. I have never been a health freak!” I reply and we both start laughing.

Then I show her how to do squats, just like we used to do back at the flat. Now we do it to warm up before the interview.

Banu came to the UK six years ago to study English. She then completed her Masters Degree in politics and art. She went on to work at the university teaching printing techniques for ceramics and glass. She describes her arrival in Brighton four years ago: “When I came to live here for the first time I saw the sculpture opposite the burnt West Pier. The sculpture made me feel welcome and I took an interest in the black metal of the West Pier. I like doing my research and before sculpting the West Pier as a project of architectural shape and space, I found out the name pier comes from the surname of the French architect who designed the first pier in France.“

Banu loves being a foreign artist and understanding two cultures. In Turkey people prefer contemporary ceramics whereas in the UK people want to use the items and many ceramic items have Japanese influences such as blue tones.

“Banu chose ceramics over painting after having seen a handmade ceramic pool”

Banu chose ceramics over painting after having seen a handmade ceramic pool. She loves the whole process as it is full of surprises: “You never know exactly which colour or shape is coming out of the oven. Doing ceramics is what I love. Playing with clay is very relaxing.”
www.banubal.co.uk

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Contact Christina: christina.toimela@gmail.com