Natasha Fontenelle

Natasha Fontenelle RCA

Natasha decided to choose for her research project the theme of pendants. Made for trade by the Phoenicians who were skilled glass makers they were thought to represent people the Phoenician’s traded with. The pieces were to be used as a protective amulet against evil.

She was attracted to the original object because she found it interesting, curious and felt a connection.

The drawings carved into the clay are of an imaginary organic futuristic species that live a holistic lifestyle. Creatures are hybrid self-sufficient organisms, who live in symbiotic harmony with their environment.

These creatures usually live inside my ceramic sculptures. This is their first appearance outside the clay. Linking to my dissertation “Quietly Making Noise: power control loudness of quiet”. The creatures have been quietly making noise inside her sculptures for some time. She is now interviewing and questioning the collection on their story and experience adapting to life outside the clay.

This project has grown into a large series, which she will continue to develop further by introducing new colours, glazes, textures, clays and a possible duplicate collection in glass.

Left: Phoenician Glass Pendant. 6th Century. Metropolitan Museum of Art New York. Glass pendant-Phoenician. Glass: rod-formed, trailed and tooled.Gift of J.Pierpont Morgan 1917

Above: Natasha Fontenelle - Arrival