Warped Light
Slip cast bone china lanterns
Slumping and warping are effects the ceramic industry usually
strives to avoid. By encouraging random distortion during firing, I
aimed to exploit the
unique character of bone china and challenge the view of what is
'right' or 'wrong' in ceramics. What could be seen as a fault becomes a
feature, giving rise to the possibility of
mass-produced individuality.
The design is
based on traditional Chinese paper lanterns. I wanted to recreate the
concertina effect of these lanterns using bone china, thereby giving
the impression of malleability and movement in a hard, static material. The pieces start off symmetrical but
subsequently warp in a unique way, each one caught at a different point of collapse: no two lights are the same.
