Bigheaded (Cabeçudos)

A wild clay vase with an attitude.

From her workshop in Leiria (Estremadura, Portugal), Andreia Pinho takes refuge from humankind to explore its most bizarre and grotesque side through wild clay.

Wild clay means she doesn't just buy her raw material or order it online. She harvests it by hand like a hidden gem in the seven corners of Portugal, venturing into secret spots we never dreamed existed.

In the summer, when Andreia ventures into the depths of the forest, she remembers the fires that usually devastate the local woods at that time of year. She is vigilant.

Fire is also the origin of all earth and the destination of Andreia's Bigheaded (cabeçudo) when it comes time to fire and harden the rare and elastic paste she works with.

A huge, monstrous head where organic means grotesque and grotesque means organic. We notice that the ears look like pointed teeth, the widened fangs look like half-eaten prey, and the mustache is simply hilarious, while simultaneously resembling a snake.

And the dark red for the treacherous tongue? It is a vessel with attitude, from the unexplored depths of the Portuguese natural territory.