Introduction Helena Sekot, Philsoo Heo and David Torres recently completed some rather unusual projects in the studios of the heritage-rich Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. The young artistic creatives are not new to working with ceramic materials, though, having already furnished ample evidence of their talent in courses of specialised study and actual works. Having won the 2022 Richard Bampi Prize, they subsequently got to know how the Meissen Manufactory ticks during a stay in its studios in which they tapped its great potential for their own creations. The ceramist Richard Bampi (1896–1965) decreed that his estate be dedicated to nurturing ceramic talent. He invested in the future of ceramics as an artistic material in this way. Bampi ranked amongst the artistic avantgarde of the early 20th century and was a founding member of the Gesellschaft der Keramikfreunde (“Ceramic Appreciation Society” – GKf). The Society has run a competition for the Richard Bampi Prize as foreseen by its namesake every three to five years since 1969. Awards are made for ceramic works of high artistic quality. Besides innovation and originality, they also honour new forms of working with ceramic materials deemed compelling in both craftsmanship and technical terms. A prize of this kind spurs young artists on and opens up new perspectives to them. It is a guarantor of new talent in artistic ceramics. 13
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