Spotlight on Maker: Mathilda L. Coutinho

 Mini introduction on who you are, where you are from and what you do.

My name is Mathilda L. Coutinho (MLC), and I completed my PhD in Conservation and Restoration with a specialization in Conservation Sciences at Universidade NOVA Lisboa (Portugal). Currently, I am a researcher at HERCULES Laboratory/University of Évora (Portugal), where I research in the Conservation Sciences field on two main subjects: conservation strategies for outdoor ceramics heritage and technical art history of ceramic heritage. My work involves applying analytical methods and reproducing historical ceramic materials to enhance the understanding of materials, production techniques, and deterioration processes.

What makes you passionate about your craft/profession?

I have developed my work as a researcher in the Conservation sciences field, focusing mostly on ceramic heritage. Ceramic heritage is fascinating because its production is simultaneously transversal to most societies, but often very specific to the culture that produced it due to its vast range of properties, uses and shapes. Research on cultural heritage allows me to contribute to society with knowledge about ceramics for the preservation of materials and traditions that can also be a starting point for the development of future artistic expression.

Why does craft matter?

Crafts as a living form of cultural heritage bridge directly our past, present and future. In my work, crafts are a direct source of technical and material knowledge to understand our tangible ceramic heritage. Crafts are also an ideal way of knowledge transfer in the field of Heritage Sciences which can be explored to contribute directly to the education of all generations and may directly help increment the small-scale economy.