PROTECTOR resembles the guardian of an ancient shrine. 
With its humanoid form and strong presence, it serves as a spiritual amulet and ritual vessel.
The Ceremonial Objects series consists of small, handcrafted ceramic sculptures that bridge ancient rituals with contemporary imagination. 
Each piece is unique and serves both an aesthetic and functional purpose – designed to hold candles, incense, or sandalwood, while some can also be played as percussive musical instruments.
Their forms draw inspiration from various cultures and eras, echoing idols, ritual vessels, or symbols. They are carriers of memory without belonging to any single tradition.
Made from terracotta – an earthy and timeless material – these sculptures symbolise an imagined community of Cosmopolitan Ancestors: timeless spirits who carry whispers of a shared human memory.
Natalia Manta is a visual artist working primarily with clay and handcrafted ceramics. 
Her practice explores the symbolic power of objects, the relationship between body and material, and the ritualistic dimensions of everyday actions. 
Through forms inspired by various cultures and historical periods, she creates hybrid sculptures that function both as utilitarian and narrative objects.
The ceramics are numbered and signed by the artist and were created exclusively for the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Αthens.