Breaking the Mould

Breaking the Mould, New Approaches to Ceramics

Black Dog Publishing, 2007

As with Functional Ceramics I took this book out of the library last weekend. It contains essays by some of the ceramicists featured in the book and lots of images of work. I have not read it all yet so I have just selected a few images that are relevant for me at the moment.

Mimi Joung From the 'Mute-Noon Series' 2005 Porcelain, 15 x 6 cm, 390 multiples

I like the repeated yet varying forms of this work.

Isobel Egan
From 'Intimate Spaces' 2005 Slip-cast porcelain, 62 x 29cm

Isobel's work explores personal space, fragility and memory.

Phoebe Cummings
'Between' 2005
Stoneware Clay, Porcelain, 40 x 240cm

This work was designed to challenge preconceptions of the form and function of everyday objects. You would expect carpet to be soft, and stairs to be walked on, but this work would be destroyed if it was touched as it is so fragile.


Gordan Baldwin
'An Alchemical Vessel' 2006
Clay 63 x 48 x 19cm

The name of this piece intrigued me (here is a link to wikipedia for further reading). It is interesting how the name the artists chooses for a piece can affect the audience's perception of it. 'Alchemy' conjures up quite dark, mysterious images for me which adds another dimension to the work.

The markings on the surface could represent many things, they seem almost disturbing, piercing the white skin of the ceramic.



Kjell Rylander
Top - 'Between' 2000
Porcelain and glue object, 119 x 13 x 6cm

Bottom - Untitled, 2000-2001
Porcelain and glue object, 10 x 24 x 8cm

The use of found objects to explore function may be something for me to explore.