Keramikų rengimas VDI Kauno vakariniame skyriuje: kova už išlikimą ir pripažinimą

LTStraipsnyje apžvelgiama lietuvių profesionaliosios keramikos studijų padėtis Kaune, ilgalaikė suinteresuotų asmenų kova dėl jo atkūrimo, 1951 m. uždarius Kauno valstybinį taikomosios ir dekoratyvinės dailės institutą. Po aštuonerių metų pertraukos šis siekis iš dalies buvo įgyvendintas, mieste įkurtas Lietuvos valstybinio dailės instituto (dab. Vilniaus dailės akademijos) Vakarinis skyrius. Studijos vakariniame skyriuje, remiantis vadovybės nutarimu, buvo susietos su dailiosios keramikos gamyklų tikslais ir poreikiais, buvo dedama daug pastangų, kad Keramikos skyriaus studentai ugdytų kūrybiškumą, orientuotųsi dinamiškoje modernėjančio pasaulio taikomosios ir dekoratyvinės dailės raidoje, gebėtų naudotis plačiomis keramikos meno galimybėmis. Vakarinio skyriaus keramikos studijų programos, parengtos profesionaliai ir įžvalgiai, nepaisant akivaizdaus dėstytojų indėlio, atspindėjo gamybos įmonių suformuluotus reikalavimus, kuriuose menkai atsispindėjo modernios meno raidos procesai. 1991 m. Kauno vakariniam skyriui suteikus savarankiškumą ir reorganizavus fakultetą, atsirado galimybė studijuoti keramiką kaip meną, kuriame nyksta ribos tarp taikomojo ir vaizduojamojo meno.

ENThe changes of the university art studies in postwar Kaunas generated moral and intellectual tension. The flourishing traditions of a national ceramics school were disrupted by the closure of Kaunas Applied and Decorative Arts Institute. The outcome of this reform was felt by the city’s tableware ceramics factory and smaller ceramics workshops. With the demand for tableware and interior ceramics growing, the shortage of professional specialists able to apply artistic creativity to factory production was deeply felt. In 1959, due to the favourable situation, Kaunas Evening Applied Arts Department of Vilnius Art Institute was established in Kaunas. The core tutors came from Kaunas Applied and Decorative Arts Institute, the predecessor of Kaunas Evening Applied Arts Department of Vilnius Art Institute. In the studies process they employed an existing and tested teaching programme where nurturing students’ creative and technological independence was given great importance. During the studies the students were introduced to various techniques and decoration types, preparing moulds, firing processes of tableware and decorative ceramics, and they were also introduced to the designing and producing of large-scale ceramic objects for architectural spaces. Due to the limited production resources, the students of Evening Studies were not taught advanced technologies and high temperature firing, nonetheless they successfully applied modern forms of artistic expression in their works. In 1979, the Ceramics Department was reorganised into the Glass and Porcelain Department specialising in porcelain. Here, the required technical basis for studies was installed and the conditions for the practical side of studies improved. However, the main aspect of studies, directed at mass production, hindered the students’ grasp of aesthetic values and limited the possibilities for individual creative work.The new perspectives of teaching professional ceramics opened up 1991 when Kaunas Art Institute became independent. The development of this teaching institution which in part continued the traditions of national ceramics school reveals the impact of inconsiderate reforms.