Ana Sofia

“Cafecito ¡Que Rico!” is a set of two handbuilt mashikoware espresso cups that celebrate the art of making Cuban cafecito’s, an often-consumed drink in Miami and an important part of Latin culture.
Iinspired by Japanese aesthetics and traditional Mashiko pottery, the cups are used for the daily ritual of drinking Cuban style espresso. The pairing of two cups encourages the communal aspect of a cafecito, which is rarely drank alone, symbolizing the act of connection and togetherness no matter how far apart cultures or homelands.

I make art because I like to create useful things and find beauty in everyday stuff. When I was learning pottery in Mashiko, I realized what I made showed my strong connection to home – both where my family is from in Cuba and my time growing up in Miami. Throughout my 3 years in Japan, I’ve learned to appreciate and understand both my culture and the Japanese way of thinking more deeply.
I believe that art is not just the fancy stuff; it’s also in the things we use every day. It doesn’t matter where you’re from; it’s something we all share.

私が作品を作るのは、便利なものを作ったり、日常にあるものに美しさを見出したりするのが好きだから。益子で陶芸を習っていたとき、私は自分の作るものが故郷との強いつながりを示していることに気づいた。日本での3年間を通して、私は自分の文化と日本人の考え方の両方に感謝し、より深く理解することを学んだ。
アートは派手なものだけでなく、私たちが毎日使うものの中にもあると信じています。どこの国の人であるかは関係なく、私たちみんなが共有しているものなのです。