MODERN MAZANKA: INTERVIEW WITH SERHII MAKHNO ABOUT THE UNIQUE TECHNIQUE OF WALL COVERING
Serhii Makhno blog
24.02.21
A mazanka is a traditional Ukrainian countryside dwelling. A house made of clay, raw brick or brushwood (for the roof), plastered with clay mixed with manure or any other organic substance (adobe technique).
ABOUT THE APPROACH
Currently, the main idea that we cherish and promote regarding walls is the Ukrainian mazanka house. That is, walls made of clay, straw, goatskin, and various additives: grains, wheat, barley, and flax. All this is applied manually using a special technology. This is what our ancestors did for dozens of generations to make the house “breathe” and the walls “heal”. This is the most natural and recreational solution I know. And these are specifically Ukrainian traditions that we have rethought, adapted to modern times and brought a new interpretation.
All of this is manifested in the mazanka technique itself, as well as in the reinterpretation of ceramic tiles, in three-dimensional walls, and in our innovative live clay panels.
ABOUT MAZANKA
The first thing I remember is being 6 years old and kneading clay with my feet, my grandmother used to paint our house and chicken coop, adding various unusual ingredients to the solution. Of course, I don’t know her secrets, because no one has been doing it for so long. But later, when my creative interest in searching for authentic techniques awakened, we found some of them. And most importantly, a coating to cover the clay so that it doesn’t fall off. This is the most valuable thing. This is the recipe that many claymakers are looking for and can’t find. That’s why we don’t share it with the public, because it’s years and years of searching and experimenting.
And that’s okay, because we used to have a potter who had his own secret recipe, but he never told us. Everyone has their own proportions, ingredients, etc.
My grandmother told me about herbs and seeds that can be added to clay, and then I looked for articles about it. But, to tell the truth, for some reason, no one ever emphasized this. And I decided that it made sense. Since the mazanka is hygroscopic, meaning that the walls literally “breathe,” I realized that people inside these walls could breathe more pleasant and healing air. After all, medicinal herbs and seeds emit light, subtle notes of oils and adaptogens that are felt by the body when there is a change in temperature and humidity, that is, exactly when the immune system and nervous system need such reinforcement.
ABOUT IMPORTANCE
Today, humanity is on the edge of a man-made abyss. Every city dweller suffers from environmental, electromagnetic, informational, and psycho-emotional pollution. This is why there is a trend towards environmental friendliness, wellness, and a return to natural biological regimes and eco-spaces. This is manifested in retreat experiences, grounding, interest in organic products and natural farming. Mazanka allows you to get the benefits of an eco-settlement in any home anywhere on earth. It is a new “big thing” from Ukraine for the whole world.
ABOUT THE PROSPECTS
Today, we see the enormous potential of mazanka and its derivatives to become one of the main modern wall decoration practices. Starting from its fascinating natural and recreational properties, and to the new visual aesthetics that are now in great demand in the world.
n Ukraine, only a few enthusiasts are studying mazanka techniques, and we hope that more will follow. In Japan, for example, similar clay wall decoration has been a privilege of wealthy homes since the Middle Ages and is still a part of the culture, and people there understand and appreciate what they are dealing with. I believe that Ukrainian approaches will have an even brighter future.
Serhii Makhno, 2024.
