Drawing x Ceramics 6 (Final show ideas)

I have a number of sculptural ideas I want to try make for the final show. Firstly, I want to create an abstract piece that deconstructs the landscape into identifiable elements, and reassembles them to create an entirely new landscape. I hope to inspire a curious mind, and a sense of adventure, triggering positive ideas of possibility and wonder.

I’ve used white earthenware to create the below piece. I used rolled, flat pieces of clay, and assembled them together with slip. I again, want to keep experimenting with a cut and paste, collage aesthetic, and translate this in different materials.

White earthenware piece

The middle, freestanding piece is meant to represent a cliffside, whether canyon wall or a seaside cliff edge. On the edge is a tree which attempts to grow despite the odds. At the bottom, is a small cavernous area, where the land has eroded, and you can take shelter. There is a layer of landscape, which has rising and winding paths. The angular shape of the landscape is suggestive to say it expands beyond the visible horizon. Whether light has not reached it yet, or this is a literal slice of that landscape. Conversely the area could be underwater, and resemble a coral reef. The top of the piece is above the water surface.

Below is from the game Jedi: Survivor, which is what I see in this piece.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. 2023. PS5 [Game]. Redwood, CA: Electronic Arts.

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Below is the potential second piece I've created for the show. This was made using red terracotta earthenware, as there was a lack of white at the time, but it would be great to test what this would look like. I had an idea of making a mountain with the landscape attached below. When I was making this, it reminded me of bookends, which would be an interesting use within a domestic environment.

I made the horizontal layer slightly thicker, to ensure it would free-stand, despite it needing some assistance whilst waiting to be fired. I made sure to smooth off the edges and continue this around the whole piece, including the horizontal edges. It looks more refined, compared to rough geometric ones (I think!). I will use my underglaze crayons on this once fired, to add rough detail, possibly underglaze paints too.

From each angle you see a different view, reflecting the perspective of moving around the landscape in real life. I enjoy this direct representation. I look forward to seeing the results!

Terracotta clay piece