KATHRYN HEARN
Course Director BA(Honours) Ceramic Design June 3rd 2015
Ceramic Design and ceramics as a subject is in excellent health, particularly at Central Saint Martins. The BA(Honours) course and the MA Design : Ceramics work in the degree show are testament to that. I am in a reflective mood as I retire this year as Course Director after almost twenty seven years teaching and running our course. This is a terrific situation given that in 2004 the Financial Times reported that the ‘Higher Education Funding Council for England had launched a study into funding endangered minority subjects such as physics and chemistry which the results would be used to set policy for the strategic planning of delivery in those subjects’. By 2007 the subjects which were vulnerable had been described by the Council for Higher Education Art and Design (CHEAD) as ‘Minority Specialist Subjects (MSS) would encompass those subjects that are concerned with the teaching and learning of core skills, materials and processes; specifically this would cover subjects that are concerned with non-digital issues, and with the physicality of processes / materials.’ During this time the ‘National
Learning Arts Network’ were formed and by 2009 Elizabeth Wright, who teaches on our course, presented her research paper to NALN discussing ‘Endangered Subjects, Recommendations, Advocacy for Crafts Practice’ where she looked at the state of crafts education including ceramics within Higher Education. This was further compounded by funding in schools not supporting the making skills sufficiently in the art and design subjects therefore applications to higher education took a plummet and also because of the new emerging technologies these subjects were not seen as useful to budding designers. Throughout this period the specialist craft courses and particularly ceramics were being decimated or being morphed into multidisciplinary programmes. This left the only two specialist ceramics courses remaining in the UK, our course at Central Saint Martins and at the long standing Cardiff course. Luckily for ceramics UAL were committed to the specialist subjects as well as interdisciplinary education. It has been a challenging journey for our course and team but the tenacity of the college to keep the relevance of crafts subjects
within their portfolio has now seen making in all its variety and significantly ceramics rising hugely in popularity as a medium for designers, makers and artists and also a desirable contemporary acquisition. Having material knowledge is a fantastic currency to have in this creative era. The Crafts Council’s manifesto in 2014 ‘Our Future is in the Making’ supports this but also is reminding all the gate keepers must not let it be further eroded they remind us that ‘The UK is a world leader in craft. Craft generates 3.4bn for the economy. 150,000 people are employed in businesses driven by craft skills.’ These graduates you are enjoying in the show reflect the demands the material expects of a maker and the range of vision the subject embraces. Ceramic Design is not an easy choice of subject. Disarmingly being quite a quite modest and seemingly ‘quiet’ year group these students have emerged with some inventive, personal, commercial, enquiring and quietly confident work. The time is absolutely right for their designs to find relevance in the ‘world of work’ and creative places. It is clear that all things clay related have a very positive future.
Cube chandelier A bespoke chandelier, designed to be adaptable for multiple environments, composed of hundreds of black and white ceramic cubes, each one has been individually hand brushed.
Adri Kelly
Phone Number: 0044(0)7922715068 Website: adrikellydesign.com Email: adrikelly92@gmail.com
Mindfulness “the intentional, accepting and non-judgmental focus of one’s attention on the emotions, thoughts and sensations occurring in the present moment�. It is a form of reflection through meditation. The ability to reflect is a natural reaction and it is how humans grow to become better, much like new designs that are constantly attempting to improve our quality of lives. However, due to our fast-paced society people are often disenchanted by the repetition of day-to-day activities, which causes stress that jeopardises our wellbeing.
Bridgette Kwok Ching Chan
Taking inspiration from the Zen garden, Bridgette has designed a one-person tea set that aims to promote personal wellbeing. She wishes the user of her product to live very much in the moment and to take the time out of our daily demanding lives to make tea. The art and process of brewing tea in the teapot to fill one full cup is at the forefront of her design.
Email: bridgee.chan@gmail.com
Traces of time “Traces of time” is a luxury inspired tableware collection created by ceramic design student Agnese Graudina and textiles design student Yan Ma. Agnese’s fascination with the links between “Luxury in post materialism” are the focus of a continuing exploration.
Agnese Graudina
This is realised through the discoveries that the concept of luxury throughout history carries profoundly diverse meanings to individuals within modern society. Agnese and Yan’s collaborative working relationship has born a dynamic creative outcome. Their differing backgrounds and skill sets has enabled a flow of cultural exchange informed by their personal and professional journeys. They have worked closely together in designing the collection and have used their personal photography documenting their visual experiences. This teamed with crystalline glazes, considered one of the most luxurious glazes due to their complex firing schedule and crystals growing in a very precise environment and time scale, represent a luxury born out of craft and technology. Phone Number: 0044(0)7553450313 Website: agnesegraudina.com Email: graudina.agnese@gmail.com Instagram:instagram.com/graudina.agnese
Migration Amanda’s approach to design focuses on the sculptural side of ceramic design. Taking inspiration from movement in nature her most recent work explores the concept of capturing movement within inanimate objects. Her latest collection titled “Migration” draws upon the idea of anthropomorphic movement within a group of objects utilising both the surface pattern of black stoneware and the expressive application of glaze to emphasise a sense of progressive energy.
Amanda Haslam
Phone Number: 0044(0)7775422413 Website: www.meiyiha.com Email: amandajanehaslam@gmail.com Instagram: instagram.com/hameiyi_
Womanish Candy’s work explores the female figure through 3 different ceramic methods; slip casting, throwing and coiling. These 3 methods have allowed Candy to express 3 perspectives that come from a very personal place but are also something many women can relate to. The slip cast pieces explore views around beauty standards and the lack of diversity of women that we see in the media. Slip casting is used as repetitive production, so lends itself well to the message in these pieces.
Candy Ward
The thrown vessels are a celebration of diversity. With throwing, it is difficult to create any 2 pieces the same, so each object is unique. The large coiled pots portray the celebration of not only the physical form of the female body but also the equal physical space women should occupy in society.
Website: www.candyward.co.uk Email: candyward@live.co.uk Twitter: @candy_ward
1846
Catherine Rose MOUountford
There’s something captivating about the fleeting glimpses of the landscape we so hurriedly pass through by train that has long held Catherine’s imagination. The landscape never appears the same or tires to inspire: blurred graduated greys and rolling green hills, peeking sky blues and sunset oranges, and the flashes of vibrant yellow during the canola season. As a ceramic designer-maker, Catherine relishes the opportunities the process of making offers. Although mould making is to gain repetition in form, the scope for surface decoration is vast when using stains in the clay body and surface. With frequent train journeys from London to Staffordshire and back, Catherine’s final project reflects her love of colour and the brief glimpses of the landscape viewed at high speed. These collections are designed to enhance our dining experiences and much like the changeable landscapes, each individual piece in Catherine’s collection is a one off and varies in surface treatment and decoration.
Website: www.catherinerosemountford.co.uk Email: crmountford@icloud.com Instagram: instagram.com/catherinemakes Twitter: @CatherineMakes
Modern Family Claudia’s work is greatly influenced by her family background and in particular by two strong female family characters: her grandmother Jeanne, and her godmother Christine who is a painter.
Claudia CAUVILLE
Spending many summers at the family farm in the South of France, Claudia has developed a taste/palette for earthy colours and textures, together with the ability to find beauty in the most unexpected shapes. Passionate about architecture, painting and family, the Modern Family collection is a translation of the relationship between the maker and the final outcome. Modern Family is a tangible representation of colour and forms that originate from the artist’s abstract drawings. A mixture of names and personalities, this is a growing collection of objects that pushes the boundaries of functionality. An imperfect mix, a little like a family today.
Website: cargocollective.com/claudiacauville Email: claudiacauville@gmail.com Instagram: instagram.com/claudiacauville
Apple tree hill Cider Bottles My bespoke cider bottles are inspired by my family’s traditional English apple farm in the heart of Suffolk. We turn the apples we grow into juices and cider with the juice being put into mass-produced glass wine bottles. With this in mind and the knowledge I have gained of ceramic as a material whilst studying, I felt a ceramic vessel hand thrown on the potter’s wheel would better enhance the craftsmanship of the apple juice inside. Incorporating my family run cider farm’s emblem into the branding of the bottle as well as the landscape the farm is set in is at the forefront of the design of these cider bottles. Dominic Upson
Email: domup3@hotmail.co.uk
Diaspora of the hopeful
Grace Burgess
As members of society we present ourselves and our homes within the uniformed code that signals to others that we belong to our tribe. Exploring the relationship between class and taste I have examined the second-hand and generally kitsch objects that fill my own home My adopted relics of a by gone era may have a few chips and marks but I like that they have a story to tell, they are characterful. Synonyms that could not be used to describe life in suburbia, where I grew up. The reality of suburbia for the diaspora of the working class; appear as middle class as possible. The ceremonies of which I find deeply interesting. Festive celebrations are pivotal to this display. The scented candles, the embellished table linen and the decanting of Pringles into hand made dishes. The culmination of which has led me to create a range of ‘occasion homeware’. Taking inspiration from my own collection of objects I am re-designing their function to give them a new purpose. This collection is a lumpy family that does not quite fit together but appears aesthetically opulent. I sincerely hope my Mum uses them at Christmas.
Email: : burgess.grace.e@gmail.com Instagram: whatgracedidnext
The infinity of tradition Haya’s upbringing has always been evident in her work. Raised in Jordan, family is a very important part of Jordanian culture. Inspired by her own family history, and as a celebration of her Arabic language, Haya used Arabic Calligraphy, and designed a range of hand carved bespoke table top pieces, tilted ‘The infinity of tradition’. Every piece is special in its own way and is engraved with a special secret message each aiming to honour and preserve her family’s legacy.
Haya Na’el Zahi Darwazeh
Email: haya.darwazeh@gmail.com Phone Number: 0044(0)7841471663
Icelandic Whilst exploring and traveling around Iceland, a country that is highly geologically active, the more I explored it, the further I fell in love with this remarkable island. With the widespread availability of geological power, Iceland forms a variety of landscapes. I travelled along the No.1 Highway, the main road that divides Iceland into 7 parts according to their noted topography, such as waterfalls, volcanoes or hot springs.
Kevin zhang
My inspiration for this final project comes from the geographical map of Iceland. I have made 7 pieces with various textures hidden inside the gaps of dividing lines. The 7 pieces can fit in with each other and forms an integral map of Iceland. In this project, I have incorporated 3D printing technology into my design, which has helped me achieve the accurate shapes.
Website: www.kaiceramic.com Email: kaiceramic@hotmail.com
Ayia Mavri Magdalene’s designs draw on all the elements of the story of Ayia Mavri, told in the mountainous village of her maternal grandparents in Kilani, Limassol, Cyprus. This story brings the village together in annual celebration of food and dance; swirls of smoke carry the aromas of barbecues through the village, binding people in mutual adoration of life and freedom.
Magdalene Theodorou
Inspired by the winding village roads, rugged terrain, translucent water and white limestone, she encapsulates the sense of community, celebration, and hope in her ceramic barbecue collection. Swirling curls of smoke and the use of the luxurious effect of marbling feature in her work. Magdalene has brought the barbecue experience to the table in a refined way igniting the senses and enhancing the dining experience, taking it to another level.
Website: www.tseri-oil.com Email: magdalene@geceducation.net Phone Number: 0044(0)7904615999
Hide and seek The theme for this project is inspired by the game Hide and Seek . I have designed a collection of containers that can be used for food storage or as vases which tell stories through decorative figures. The concept of this project is applied through figures attached in every object. Indeed you will always be surprised to find something, or someone, hidden inside or underneath. The outdoors and our natural environment, much like the environment we would play hide and seek in, have inspired the colours of this collection.
Priscilla cheng
My aim is to entertain the user with my silly but delightful collection of ceramic stories which can be seen as sculptural but also functional.
Website: www.i-m.mx/Priscillachh/Pchh/ Email: priscilla0118@hotmail.com Phone Number: 0044(0)07557048339
Bringing Personality To The Table Ogonda’s earthenware pieces are heavily influenced by the notion of unashamed decadence and yet they can be used everyday within the comfort of the home.
Sophia Ogonda
Her title ‘Bringing Personality To The Table’ is a summation of the need for an alternative to ‘classic’ white tableware and her project is shaped by the growing revival towards coloured tableware. Her process embraces some of the more traditional methods of making such as hand pulling the handles on her mugs and yet the incorporation of newer technologies such as laser cutting are also involved. Intricate, age old Arabesque motif’s swathe and embellish the surfaces of her work whilst vibrant glazes emphasize the textural qualities of her ceramics.
Email: sophiaogonda@hotmail.co.uk Phone Number: 0044(0)7539 284613
Are you going to leave that there? Stephanie’s former professional experiences within performance and lens-based mediums inform her dynamic approach within her current ceramic practice. This physical and narrative led engagement is visualised within her graduation installation ‘Are you going to leave that there?’. The material qualities of clay and contrasting processes available within ceramics act to express the artist’s fascination with the themes of balance, space and vulnerability within a more ambiguous sculptural experience.
Stephanie Buttle
Website: www.stephaniebuttle.com Email: stephanie@stephaniebuttle.com Phone Number: 0044(0)7956828363 Vimeo: vimeo.com/stephbuttle Instagram: instagram.com/steph_buttle Twitter: @steph_buttle
Singularis Singularis is a concept of micro-dining which embraces individualism and uniqueness, celebrating the user’s drive to accomplish more and to be whole and true to themself. It is a complete set in which all components are in one place and its aim is to be easy to use and versatile, smoothing routine and enhancing its owner’s lifestyle. Singularis can be stored immediately after use since, after washing, it can dry in its sculptural setups. The last two pieces can store food as a container and can move smoothly from fridge to microwave to table. JOANA cartaxo
Singularis aims to complement and celebrate the experience of responsible freedom.
Website: joanacartaxo.wix.com Email: joana_cx@outlook.com Phone Number: 0044(0)77 1045 7539
This exhibition by the 3rd year students of the BA Ceramic Design course is the culmination of our final endeavours and represents all that we have learnt on the course. However, we would not have been able to achieve anything without the support of the following staff to whom we will be eternally grateful and to whom we would like to say a very big heartfelt thank you to: Head technician Andy Allum and technicians Naomi Bailey, Simeon Featherstone and Steven Graham - your remarkable guidance, knowledge and patience even on a jam-packed plaster area day or an all-kilns-firing day are remarkable. Tutors
Kathryn Hearn, Duncan Hooson, Rob Kessler and Tony Quinn – you
were always available to help, you always had recommendations and advice to give, and just basically, you never failed to ‘sort us out’. Administrative staff James Couling, Sarah Leontovisch, Helen Danks, Ziggy Owen and Lucia Martin Zamora – always ensuring that everything works like clockwork.
If it wasn’t for each and every one of you, none of our work would be possible, so thank you again. This year brings a very special thank you to our course leader, Kathryn Hearn, as after 27 years as head of Ceramic Design at Central Saint Martins, she has decided to retire. She joined Central Saint Martins in 1988 as course leader and has never failed to give encouragement and has always showed complete faith in not only our subject, but also in our individual interests and projects. The admiration and affection we all have for Kathryn is boundless and we wish her the very best in her retirement. We couldn’t be happier that she will now have more time to pursue her own work and practice. With love & best wishes, The Class of 2015 Design: www.giuseppealagna.com