Studio series 'Small Bricks'
The surface structure is inspired by layered stone walls and is created partly deliberately, partly by chance. This means that some of the cracks are intentionally induced, but their specific expression is left to the material itself. Through the combination of the black-fired stoneware clay with the surface structure, the objects acquire a particularly stone-like character.
Clay is a weathering product of rocks. It is soft and moldable, but becomes as hard as stone again when fired at a high temperature. This poetic transformation becomes visible here.
Material properties
This poetic transformation of the material — from stone to clay to stone — is reflected in the texture of the surface. This arises from another property of the material: the cracking of the clay as it dries. While this is often seen as a flaw in ceramic craftsmanship, it is actually a characteristic of all types of clay. There is a beauty in chance that cannot be created by hand or machine. Thus, the characteristic structures of the objects emerge in the exciting space between control and chance. I create the conditions for their formation, but leave their exact form to the material itself.
The challenge with every object is to find the right balance between allowing the surface to crack enough to create an interesting texture, while staying suitable for everyday use.
Photo Wesley Tingey
Photo Philippa Lowe
Craft
With enough practice, a person can produce several identical items by hand with incredible precision. But what exactly is the difference between handcrafting and industrial manufacturing?
A key difference is that manual processes are not preprogrammed. In handmade production, it is possible to follow the material more closely and decide during the creative process how much control to apply and how much room to give to the material’s unique characteristics — and thus also to chance. All objects in this series can only be made by hand.
Minimizing Waste
As part of the design, irregularities and chance are not only fascinating, but they also reduce production waste since variation becomes a distinctive feature that is intentionally incorporated.
Resource-Efficient
The focus is on the natural colour of stoneware clay, rather than glazes. Coloured glazes are completely avoided. Clay and clay waste are collected, processed and reused as much as possible. The manganese clay here is from the Westerwald region in Germany.
Usage
Unique Pieces in series
All ceramic objects are designed and crafted by hand in the studio workshop. The unique characteristics of the different types of clay are visible, which is why the objects are left unglazed on the outside and glazed only on the inside. Any irregularities in shape, texture or material, as well as visible traces of craftsmanship, are intentional design elements, not flaws.
Some handmade pieces from the series are available in the online store.
There is a beauty in chance that cannot be created by hand or machine.
