Mossy Forest - my Ceramic Collection

This collection of work was created in my ever studio outside of school. The opportunity landed into my lap : I was outside and just got 3L of organic lavender laundry detergent as I had moved to this new city 10 days ago and needed to wash my clothes. I was walking and saw a ceramic shop. I walk in and start looking at the pieces, and the glaze on a mug caught my eye and I thought I recognised it, so I ask the guy what glaze it was, and we got to talking, I revealed I was in the becomings of ceramicistism and he asked where my studio was. I explained I only just moved here and that I was looking, if he knew anyone, and he offered for me to come work in his shop.

When moving somewhere new I need to explore the nature around before feeling at home. Having grown up next to mountains and forests and lakes and rivers, nature is a big part of me and my creative inspirations and aspirations. So during this time I was taking a day off from the ceramic studio to go into nature,

I explored semi-islands,

abandoned cathedrals,

aqueducts,

waterfalls,

forests,

vineyards,

beaches. 

And I saw a white heron, 

white peacocks,

normal peacocks,

loads of flamingos,

dark herons.

I see more tall birds here than anywhere else. They look so elegant and poised, dignified and equable. And I think that somewhere, this is what inspired the handles of the jugs of this collection. They are tall, curved, they seamlessly flow from the neck to the body. They elevate the shapes of the jugs without overpowering, they almost appear frozen in the middle of taking in their surroundings.

The footed bowls are elevated and balanced, with a unique silhouette achieved with the protruding handles. The outline is peculiar yet balanced which makes it a very intriguing object to look at. 

This was a time of trying new things, being in a new place, getting to know the surroundings and myself through them, in dialogue with my practice. I think this collection is a perfect visual representation of how getting back to the basics will always bring you so much, and a simple twist on a classic bowl makes it into a sculptural yet still useful object. How what you do and where you go influences you in ways you cannot even imagine, and how forests permeate through me, offer me comfort and safety, a sense of being home. The shapes reflect who I want to be : elegant, balanced, organic.

This whole collection just looks like it is part of and belongs in a mossy and enchanted forest, and I love it.