Care for Milk

Ekaterina Semenova is a Russian ceramicist, material researcher and colour designer who lives and works in Amsterdam. She connects history, culture and experience through her work, which confronts waste and value.

Overproduction and continuous price drops since the global financial crisis of 2008 have seen our appreciation of milk sink while our consumption of dairy grows. With Care for Milk Semenova reclaims the value of this characteristically Dutch dairy product, which she collected as leftovers from neighbourhood households. She was able to turn leftover milk into bioplastic and apply it to ceramics; when milk penetrates the pores of ceramics it creates a protective waterproof layer, like a real glaze, which makes it durable to use without applying a chemical-based glaze on top. Depending on the type and fat content of the milk, various shades of silky brown appear after firing.