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CLUSTER CRAFTS FAIR

Cluster’s selection of artists boasts a range of not only art forms, but ideas, concepts and techniques, bringing together the best of art, design and craft. Whilst we are faced with chaos in the outside world, take a breather with us as we take a look into how our favourite practitioners are influenced by the natural world, showcasing an exploration of materials in new and exciting ways.

Being in lockdown has made many of us realise how much we rely on and appreciate nature; when we’re away from it we crave it. Natural materials have been a great influence for many of our artists and makers for years, and there is something poignant about how owning a ceramic work allows us to bring this love for nature into the home. Simply looking at ceramics, with their earthy aesthetics and clear markings from the artistry of the maker’s hand, there is something both humbling and luxurious about ceramics, whether a piece is functional or sculptural and decorative. Our artists are living and working around the world, yet their creative language is universal. New works are in direct dialogue with this ancient art history, and we are really pleased to be championing it in 2020.

We look to the V&A’s ceramics collection, which dates as far back as 2500 BC. What makes a museum-worthy ceramic? Whereas contemporary works tread the line between functional and decorative, often dipping between the two, the V&A showcases fine aesthetic pieces with the likes of teapots displayed nearby but, in some ways, they are worlds apart. It is clear from the museum’s attitude towards ceramics that they are used as a marker from which to assess history; whether historically the artists are Chinese, Middle Eastern, Italian Renaissance or anything in between, it got us thinking: what do Cluster’s ceramic artists tell us about the world we are living in now?

Anita Hanch-Hansen is one of our designers, currently working and living between Italy and Norway, and her practice looks at material characteristics and histories. Her practice has been recognised by the Norwegian Arts Council and the Norwegian Embassy, and she has exhibited around the world. Anita looks at clay and porcelain in the different stages of making, and is fascinated by the potential of materials, especially given their organic nature. Anita’s work could be read as a great example of how we are using these difficult times to adapt not only ourselves but our surroundings to an unprecedented moment, but even on a merely aesthetic level they are truly enticing.

Ana-Belén Montero is an artist living in Belgium, who is both the Artistic Director of Ceramic Art Andenne and Head of the Department of Ceramics at the Academy of Fine Arts of Marche-en- Famenne. Ana-Belén is fully immersed within and dedicated to the world of ceramics, and has also curated exhibitions. Her series ‘Symbiosis’ subverts the traditional process of making; the glaze is melted at a high temperature first, before the other pieces are formed at a lower temperature. Ana-Belén’s work is inspired by marine life and corals; bringing the natural world into the everyday shows mankind’s awe towards nature, as well as the artist’s incredible skill.

Monika Debrowska discovered her love for ceramics as a teenager and went on to study at the Academy of Fine Art in Wroclaw. She has been based in the small town of Kety in Poland for several years and is inspired by her surroundings on a daily basis: the textures, the fragmentation. The way in which the artist works is both methodical and complex, starting with sketches which evolve into ceramic pieces mixing natural materials with combustibles such as paper and glass. Different parts are created separately before coming together as one final composition. This coming together of not only individual parts but natural and man-made worlds becomes a visually satisfying crystallisation of the commodification of nature. Monika utilises her insight from the small, rural setting of her studio, and we are thrilled to be able to bring her work to you all.

While we’re looking forward to our next event in September, now is a great time to discover new creatives and fully explore art forms and ideas you’re interested in, so sit back and join us on social media, the website and Cluster Journal as we continue to introduce you to our favourite designers and makers from around the world. Mankind’s difficult relationship with nature is highlighted in the work of Anita, Ana-Belén and Monika to varying degrees, but an exploration into the materiality of mixed elements of ceramics unites them. This makes us think about not only a shared world but one that has infinite possibilities, and it is thrilling to share these exquisite creative responses with you.

Thank you for reading,
Issey Scott