ceramics
when it comes to sculpting, my approach heavily relies on the physical properties of the clay: its malleability, texture, natural colour, how it easily takes shape while faced with pressure, how fragile it gets when dry, and how it keeps the memory of the touch after firing, gaining its sturdiness and strength.
souvenirs
fr. souvenir (to remember)
this series explores memories, ephemeral at their core yet leaving a tangible trace on the physical level, blurring and fading as time passes, gradually getting rigid, small and distant, easily digestible in their simplified form.
this series explores memories, ephemeral at their core yet leaving a tangible trace on the physical level, blurring and fading as time passes, gradually getting rigid, small and distant, easily digestible in their simplified form.
consciously or not, the body keeps track of every minuscule physical reaction it gets, be it an increased heart rate from a gentle touch, the impression of one's skin against the other's, or inner tension gradually building up, engraving deeply in the muscle memory.
despite the inspiration behind the series comes from marine life visual-wise, the shapes are intentionally kept abstract, their curves and spikes illuminating the dichotomy of our memory, its ambiguity and sharpness unexpectedly taking turns.
other-nature
CONCEPT
the main idea behind the sculpture IS THE feeling of otherness that comes with unfulfilled constant search for meaning, belonging, cravings for connection.
not being able to fit in and be accepted, one tries to make sense of themselves in attempt to fill in the gaps excavated by a hungry desire and need to be loved and cared for in a particular way.
the body, in its turn, keeps the score of the inner void.
not being able to fit in and be accepted, one tries to make sense of themselves in attempt to fill in the gaps excavated by a hungry desire and need to be loved and cared for in a particular way.
the body, in its turn, keeps the score of the inner void.
approach
working with clay represents motherly energy, reconnection with one's roots, with nature.
malleability of clay serves as a metaphor to memory, keeping track of every touch used to define its shape. the memory is intimate, as is the gesture of pressing the naked body against the clay — fresh, soft yet robust due to its volume.
the torso is shaped both by vigorous squeezing and gentle strokes, its curves outlined, and fingerprints left on the surface. the torso is being caressed, yet overall the interaction is violent, intrusive, possessive: the clay itself has no agency against the pressure, absorbing its force.
malleability of clay serves as a metaphor to memory, keeping track of every touch used to define its shape. the memory is intimate, as is the gesture of pressing the naked body against the clay — fresh, soft yet robust due to its volume.
the torso is shaped both by vigorous squeezing and gentle strokes, its curves outlined, and fingerprints left on the surface. the torso is being caressed, yet overall the interaction is violent, intrusive, possessive: the clay itself has no agency against the pressure, absorbing its force.
wherever the traces were left, the clay gets to be slowly extracted. with time the extraction gets deeper, uglier, merging and collapsing into larger holes, intertwining.
being left to dry, the clay is still fragile, a flimsy structure bending and cracking under its own weight. the firing process cements the fractures, just like the memory gets rigid with time, and leaves the torso stable and sturdy, no longer prone to be influenced.
applying the sheer glaze on the outer side of the torso highlights the psyche's ability to make sense of the past experiences, polishing them into a shiny image of perseverance and resilience.
while the body keeps the score of the former intrusion, the psyche digests it into a socially acceptable, presentable and semi-attractive way.
being left to dry, the clay is still fragile, a flimsy structure bending and cracking under its own weight. the firing process cements the fractures, just like the memory gets rigid with time, and leaves the torso stable and sturdy, no longer prone to be influenced.
applying the sheer glaze on the outer side of the torso highlights the psyche's ability to make sense of the past experiences, polishing them into a shiny image of perseverance and resilience.
while the body keeps the score of the former intrusion, the psyche digests it into a socially acceptable, presentable and semi-attractive way.
