Shaping Identity: The Ceramic Art of Josefina Plá

A new book just arrived to Paraguay, it explores the ceramic works of Josefina Plá, preserved in the Julián de la Herrería Museum. With 220 pages and 210 illustrations, the volume offers a comprehensive study of Plá’s artistic legacy, published in Madrid by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) in December 2024.

Josefina Plá (1903–1999), a writer and intellectual linked to the Generation of ’27, was deeply passionate about both literature and clay. This book, the second in a series, focuses on her ceramic work from her arrival in Asunción in 1926 to around 1965. It traces her journey from Manises, Spain, to Paraguay and highlights her impact on the country’s artistic scene, including her recognition at the São Paulo Biennial.

A standout chapter covers the Serie Payaguá, where Plá reinterpreted indigenous iconography through unique clay techniques, blending pre-Columbian elements with modern artistic expression. The book also includes a catalog of her ceramic pieces, archival materials, and personal anecdotes, such as her donation of her collection to Spain to preserve her cultural legacy.

More than just a catalog, The Ceramics of Josefina Plá is a tribute to an artist who shaped cultural identity through clay, offering a vital perspective on the role of art in preserving and transforming heritage. (Source: ABC)