|
|
Growing up in the Middle East exposed me to a lot of handmade pottery. Everyday wares are made from clay; even the buildings are covered inside and out with individual tiles. The constant exposure to the endless hues of golds, maroons and browns was imprinted in me. So, it was only natural to be fascinated by the colours of Saggar firing. But, with my �spheres�, it was the unpredictable nature of the end result that excited me most. The spheres are pebble-like pieces: smooth, sensuous and curvaceous. They are so round, so simple, so relaxing and comforting to the touch.. The colours are strong, bright shades of burgundies and browns, reminiscent of Moroccan tapestries. All of my forms are very simple, elegant and precise, a result perhaps,of too many years working as a drafter in civil engineering. Saggar firing adds the yin to my yang. The unpredictability of the firing balancing my precise streak. They are a sensuous and pleasant form to throw. The firing makes them totally individual and full of life. It is always very exciting to open the kiln and see how they have turned out. It is the end product of so many different variables: the clay, the terra sigillata, the organic materials, the salts and the copper oxides. I place a bed of sawdust sprinkle salt and copper carbonate, then I wrap each sphere with salted rope and copper wire then some sea weeds on top. Place the spheres on the bed of sawdust and add any other organic dry material around them. Even when you precisely duplicate the same process, you might not have the same result, as the firing itself has its own variations, even depending on the weather outside. Basically, it is up to the �firing gods�. In a way, these spheres have been like stepping stones in my journey towards mastering ceramics. The Journal of Australian Ceramics - April 2007 |
Stepping Stones |