Sad Boy Studio I Bowl III | White Stoneware with Black Porcelain Scar

Brand

Sad Boy Studio

Curator Notes

Inspired by the acute jolts of movement of matter under pressure; This series explores the passive and active relationship between unbalanced subjects.

Each piece is a character in a conversation. I start each piece with a simple white clay body, it is from this moment that the piece starts to take on its character. Metal shavings are added, sometimes tiny iron beads, sometimes crushed, pre-fired porcelain. Rusted powders are then added which permanently stain the white body, resulting in deep reds and leathery browns.

These emerging characters heavily influence my process of working - technically and even down to which tools I subconsciously use.

In Greek mythology it was considered that creativity was something of a divine, guiding energy - referred to as a Daimon. The Romans called this idea of an unattached, free willed creativity, a Genius; something that would inhabit any form or person when it needed to but was its own entity and didn’t belong to anyone or anything.

I read of this philosophy whilst researching Greek Mythology during my degree at Central Saint Martins and appreciated it as a means of allowing myself to detach from my creative work. Never allowing myself to feel too disheartened when the final piece wasn’t what I had intended. Or indeed when something was considered good or had gained note; a way to keep yourself from too much self-congratulation.

Since working with clay, this Philosophy now feels so much more about the material and less about me as the creator. The way the material will ultimately always have its own opinion on what it wants to be and the forms and textures it allows you to guide. It’s a dual performance in which I learn as much about the final form as I do about myself.

During this ‘performance’ of creating Aggravated - Uganda was passing its Aggravated Homosexuality Law. The seething, sorrowful anger that I felt heavily influenced the whole collection, especially my use of Porcelain - a material often considered ‘Of Fine’ quality. I’ve even heard it referred to as purist. (Which is ironic given its complicated history, and that it’s the most common material used in mass produced ceramics).

Maybe it is this hyper oxymoronic notion that made it feel so appropriate for this collection. It felt almost punk to use a highbrow material to create scaring or aggressive slashes across these stoic stone forms.

Description

Colour: White

Size: H.18cm x D.37cm x ø120cm

Material: White Stoneware with Black Porcelain Scar

Designed and made in England.