she/her
“Clay is no longer seen merely as “a material to be shaped” but as an actor producing narrative. The fragility, permanence, fragmentability, and reassemblability of the material offer artists powerful metaphorical possibilities”
– Yasemin Tanriverdi
Through the medium of clay, the ceramic process becomes the beating heart of my practice. By using the systematic arrangement of the grid, I stray from the organic forms often synonymous with ceramics. I begin with the intention of precision and consistency, employing controlled methods of making. However, imperfection is inevitable meaning the outcome becomes shaped both by artistic intention and scientific reactions, allowing the material a degree of autonomy.
For the degree show I have made 64 ceramic vessels, all varying in height and colour. The acts of extruding, shaping, glazing and firing introduces risk and uncertainty similar to a game of chess, finding yourself unable to predict your opponent’s next move. This overarching metaphor subtly underpins the work, implicitly suggesting themes that are open to interpretation by the viewer. The piece welcomes viewing from multiple angles, yet access remains restricted. Viewers cannot manoeuvre completely around the piece but may find themselves facing each other, embodying players in a game of chess. The viewer’s experience is shaped and somewhat constrained by how the work is positioned, inviting them to question their own relationship to the space.
Colour is used as a bold carrier of movement across several pieces within the confines of structure. This illusion rests above each ceramic piece whereas the sides remain white, revealing the raw transformation of clay after firing. By leaving it “unfinished” I aim to push ceramics into a light that challenges traditional expectations. Through this repetitive and multifaceted process, my work becomes a testament to clay’s authority that is resistant to perfection. In a practice that sits comfortably in the realm of the unknown, I am plunged into my own game of chess, encouraging viewers to also reflect on their position within systems of control, risk and strategy.
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