the department of design research newsletter
Dave Binns reflects upon his recent workshop experiences at the International Ceramics Studio - Kecskemét, Hungary. Dave Binns
Exhibition opening Tuesday 28th Sept, with around 80 people attending the opening, including the Hungarian Cultural Minister.
I first worked at the Studio as an invited artist on an International Symposium in
October 2000, producing a body of work that was exhibited at the Studio Museum. At the beginning of this year I was invited to participate in the Meeting Masters’ program at the ICS. The idea of the Masters programme is that the invited artist is provided with a studio to work in for a month. The artist gives a series of lectures and demonstrations on their work and working processes to other artists working in the Studio and other visitors to the Studio.
“The programme is a fantastic opportunity to spend four weeks focussing entirely on developing new work, undisturbed from all normal day to day distractions. It has been often described as a ‘ceramic cloister’”.
Post Script Dave has just recently been invited to join the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC) and his work has been on show at an IAC members exhibition in Korea - the Icheon International Ceramics Centre. They have selected one piece of work for their permanent collection.
Working in the Studio is also very much about the sharing and disseminating of ideas, philosophies and working processes. This is particularly interesting bearing in mind the diversity of cultural backgrounds of the artists working in the Studio. During the 4 weeks I was working at the Studio, there were makers from the USA, Thailand, Latvia, Germany, Hungary, Japan and Australia. I went with a very open mind about what work I would be making, attempting to strike a balance between wishing to explore new ideas and processes, whilst also producing a significant body of finished work, within a four week period. The first 2 days I had the luxury of time to sketch new ideas and make maquettes. Once ideas started to emerge, then I started developing a body of new work. I wanted to move my work forward and develop existing ideas, but not allow the work to become too far removed from existing thinking. A week into the programme I was offered the opportunity of a solo exhibition in the Studio Museum / Gallery. Whilst this was a tremendous opportunity and honour, it put tremendous pressure on the programme. I had just over 2 weeks to get made, fired and finished a body of work, of a quality for exhibiting.
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ceramics innovation. Its remit was to create an environment for encouraging an exchange of ideas and practice with Eastern Block ceramic artists and established artists from Western & Asian countries. The Studio has grown into an international centre for ceramic research, with artists from many countries participating in Symposium and Master Classes.
3rd - 30th September, 2004.
International Ceramics Studio (ICS) was The originally established in 1976 as a centre for
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above: Strontium under the microscope - Page 6
issue two 1.11.04
“Apart from one afternoon off, when work was firing. I worked intensely every day, often until 2.00am in the morning. The pressure whilst intense, generated a huge amount of creative energy”.
In total Dave completed 6 large pieces of totally new work, plus a series of 4 experimental ceramic and glass hybrid pieces, alongside some collaborative development work with 2 Hungarian makers.