How did you choose ceramics for your art practice?
I was trained as a ceramics conservator and developed a great passion for ceramics and from this love I developed my practice. I select the ceramics based on their aesthetics and how they correlate with my aesthetics. I use a lot of Chinese ceramics party because there is so much of it as China historically has been the biggest producer of ceramics but they also produce some of the most beautiful ceramics It is of course important to say that i only use damaged ceramics and through my work give them a new life.
Could you tell us more about how kintsugi influences your work?
Their philosophy behind Kintsugi very much aligns with what i try to do with my work. The idea of Kintsugi is that when an object is damaged you try not to hide the damage but see it is part of it’s history and rather then hiding it the damage is enhanced by the use of gold. I see what I do with my work as a stage in the life of a the ceramic object.
What has been your most memorable project as of yet?
I think my installation called ‘War and pieces’ ha been the most memorable project. It was conceived as an installation based on 17th and 18th century table displays for the Holburne Museum in Bath in 2012. It has been travelling ever since and is now in it’s 15th venue; The Frick Museum in Pittsburgh.
What was your favourite piece of work from your Sotheby’s exhibition and could you tell us more about your process?
My favourite piece was the map of Great Britain made from English ceramics with the Willow pattern. The idea behind the maps that the ceramics made with clay from that country forms the country. It always take time to find the ceramics fora project like this and I can only use what ceramics I can find but I always find that an exciting challenge. I then have the map cut by laser in wood to which the fragments are bonded with a special silicon resin. Its a time consuming process but very enjoyable.
What are your thoughts on exploring more mediums for eg. integrating digital technology with your art work?
I have used digital technology in some projects but on a modest scale so far, it’s something that takes a lot of time to develop and i just havent had enough time to get more involved with it but i know it will happen in the future
Do you think the pandemic has affected your artistic process?
I have been very lucky that i have been able to continue my work as before, I had quite a few projects on the go last year and they kept me busy, i’m also lucky to have my studio in the garden of my house and i’v been anble to live in my own bubble. I actually think it is going to take before we are able to see how our practices have changed
Is there any advice you’d like to share with new artists who are experimenting with unconventional mediums?
My advice could be to know your material. I had developed a great knowledge of ceramics and this helped met to develop my practice. I think material knowledge is very important