Between matter and fire
Ceramic sculpture is a way of working with what is not yet defined. It does not begin with a fixed final form in mind, but with a direct relationship with the material - a substance in continuous transformation, responding to touch and time in unpredictable ways.
Clay does not obey in a linear way. It accepts the gesture, but also resists it. It shrinks, yields, cracks open, holds, or collapses. Working with it requires constant, almost physical attention to what is happening in the moment, rather than to what was initially planned.
In this practice, sculpture is built slowly, through the accumulation of small decisions. A curve, a thickness, a joint… everything alters the behaviour of the piece. The process demands listening, not only execution. And often it is in deviation, error or unexpected fragility that form finds its direction.
And then comes the fire.
Firing is an absolute turning point. The piece ceases to be malleable and becomes definitive, yet never fully predictable. The kiln transforms as much as it sets. Temperature, atmosphere, time and position within the space introduce variations that escape direct control.
It is in this encounter between intention and transformation that ceramic sculpture defines itself. A process in which form is not only constructed but also discovered, and where the final result is always, in some way, a surprise.
In July, in the Ceramic Sculpture course, you’ll have the opportunity to explore this process as a direct and sensitive one, where the material responds immediately to your gestures and ideas.
This journey opens the door to different approaches, from the figurative to the abstract, and culminates in the irreversible transformation of fire.
If you wish to dive into this unique experience and take part in a course entirely dedicated to Ceramics Sculpture, join us: sign up here.