I’m among those that believe that currently it is fair to talk about ceramic as an art. This is demonstrated by the numerous exhibition and events that are being organized in its honor in Paris, all around France and abroad. In 2015, the Soeurs de Sèvres and of The Maison Rouge exhibits provided a great visibility to exceptional work for a neophyte audience.
Manifestations like the famous outdoor market of the St Sulplice square or Mouffetard allow to discover work made by ceramic sculptor artists, as well as daily-usage objects made of clay. There is also the unmissable annual exhibits of the Ceramic Fair of the 11th district and the Ceramics 14 fair. The first one is orientated toward food and daily-usage creations, while the second offers a conceptual take on ceramic, exploring matter, enamel and textures. These events explore the diversity of influences and shapes’ eclecticism of contemporary ceramic.
To achieve to be convinced, one can discover several exhibits and events, such as the ‘ceramic path’ Carougeois,organized by the Bruckner Foundation – International biennal of contemporary ceramic, but also wonderful villages of pottery makers dedicated to ceramic such as the La Borne sur Henrichemont village where you admire two kilns set in beautiful landscapes, as well as St Amand en Puisaye.
INTENSELY CERAMIC
Ceramic is an extraordinary universe (art of four natural elements: earth, water, fire and air) with creative spectrum that are incredibly large: daily-life objects, study subjects or pieces of exception, ceramic remains an eternal source of creativity and inspiration.
I enjoy ceramic and the exploration work it demands. It is a very communicative and complex art, that always brings moments of joy in effort, research, perseverance and patience. The making of a ceramic piece isn’t a direct expression such as in painting, it is a technic and a practice that one must matter before being able to express anything. Even if results can be obtained pretty quickly and valorizing, I remain convinced that you cannot improvise yourself a ceramist. It takes years of training to acquire a real knowledge of technic gestures, an in-depth understanding of clay, and the necessary skills to master colors like a chemist or even a magician would.
From time to time, classes are specifically dedicated to ceramic for the students registered for modeling sculpture courses at the Jules Verne workshop.
I support and introduce you to several technics from these spectrum of the ceramic adventure. Shaping ‘à la plaque’, pinch pot, colombins, sgrafito, mishima, mocha tea etc. Different creations will emerge from your discoveries. From time to time the result will be either disappointing, surprising, valorizing, satisfying… But in every case, it will always be a learning experience.
