Artist Statement
The shapes I throw are based on Moon Jars, a Korean form from the Choson Dynasty originally made from plain white porcelain. I was struck by their serenity and simplicity. I decided to use this pure jar form as a canvas to incorporate selected sources of local materials such as clays, rocks and seaweeds. I am inspired to do this through a fascination with landscape and how the resources within it can be utilised.
My work is all hand thrown. The large pieces are made in stages using traditional wheel based techniques. The jars are wood-fired to stoneware temperatures and I develop my own glazes from ancient recipes. I am particularly interested in opacity and the refraction of light within the glaze creating colour variation. I use a range of clays, often in a single jar inspired by the rich geological features that surround me. By adding some of the essential and actual elements of the natural landscape to my work I am able to show how my practice is embedded in a study of landscape. The use of unrefined local materials makes for unexpected results adding dramatic spontaneity to each piece.