clay
By Esther van der Sluis
Story
Historical context is often a source of inspiration for Esther. Like traditional weaving techniques from Peruvians or embroidery from Lapland. Beautiful applications of historical techniques. Incorporated into everyday objects, almost elevated to art. Especially in these times of mass production. Back to slow art..
For example traditional porcelain techniques from the Far East have been a source of inspiration. These have been interpreted in a contemporary way. For example her series ‘Delft Blue‘. Oxide blue pigment is applied by hand in a unconventional way.
Contrasts are typical for her work; fragility versus sturdyness, subtile shapes versus unpolished edges. Brilliance versus humble expressions. Another beautiful contrast can be seen in Esthers’ preference to work very thinly and delicately which often results in imperfections and deformations during the extreme temperatures during the stoke. By this the objects obtain a unique character although many never survive the stoke in the kiln.
Her work is often composed of multiple elements. State of the art techniques like 3d-printing are combined with conventional techniques like glazing and hand molding.
Her handwriting is also found in a consequent use of a specific colour scheme. Earthy and sober, recognizable in her own developed glazings like in the series Oxides, which makes her objects even more unique.
Transparency
Contrast is an important aspect of my work. Contrast can appear in different ways. Textures like rough unfinished edges next to shiny glazings. But also in the effects of light and dark. I like to play with the transparent character of porcelain and emphasize it by creating structures in the […]
Arte Povera
Seris inspired by The Arte Povera movement. This was a avant-garde movement has it’s roots in Italy in the 1960s. Artists attacked the established institutions and did make new works of art from used poor or cheap materials. It was a way of critisizing the industrialisation and consumer consumption. There […]
Fusion: 3d-printing + traditional techniques
Special series of unique porcelain objects. Traditional techniques and state of the art 3d-printing are fused together in these series. A bit ConFusing; the upper part of the object is extremely thin and partly transparant in contrast of the base which is very solid. But also the contrast of ancient […]
