Porcelain is unique in the sense that it can be worked as clay, but when fired it reaches a state similar to glass. Primary qualities of porcelain are translucency and whiteness.
Photo: Koos Badenhorst
Artist Statement
I had to overcome technical challenges in all aspects of ceramic at the beginning of my career. There was little time to pay attention to artistic matters. My work changed over the years from stark and clumsy pots to elegant expressive pieces of art and I realized that I was expressing the surroundings in which I grew up.
While living in South Africa I became aware of the rhythm of nature. Rhythmic ripples in sand dunes and dry river beds in the semi-desert areas of Namibia, warped and gnarled trees, struggling for survival and varying stones, stacked on top of each other or scattered guilelessly by Mother Nature, was part of my everyday experience.
Mississippi with its singing Mockingbird and luscious trees exposed me to different rhythms and new nuances developed often in my work. Tornadoes, abundant water and extreme climate changes offer new opportunities for expression.
Now, living in Chicago where I am adjusting to the long and harsh winters, I am still in awe when the first snow of the season brings a peace and quietness over the city. Summer and winter are equally beautiful and I started to incorporate the beauty of it all into my works.
If some elements from my experiences are apparent in my ceramic art and people can connect with those aspects of my life, I would consider myself successful.
I had to overcome technical challenges in all aspects of ceramic at the beginning of my career. There was little time to pay attention to artistic matters. My work changed over the years from stark and clumsy pots to elegant expressive pieces of art and I realized that I was expressing the surroundings in which I grew up.
While living in South Africa I became aware of the rhythm of nature. Rhythmic ripples in sand dunes and dry river beds in the semi-desert areas of Namibia, warped and gnarled trees, struggling for survival and varying stones, stacked on top of each other or scattered guilelessly by Mother Nature, was part of my everyday experience.
Mississippi with its singing Mockingbird and luscious trees exposed me to different rhythms and new nuances developed often in my work. Tornadoes, abundant water and extreme climate changes offer new opportunities for expression.
Now, living in Chicago where I am adjusting to the long and harsh winters, I am still in awe when the first snow of the season brings a peace and quietness over the city. Summer and winter are equally beautiful and I started to incorporate the beauty of it all into my works.
If some elements from my experiences are apparent in my ceramic art and people can connect with those aspects of my life, I would consider myself successful.