ANA-BELEN MONTERO & KIRA NI
WHEN SHAPES EMERGE FROM CLAY.
Spanish creator Ana-Belen Montero studied fine arts in Belgium and, over the course of many years of study and exploration, found that clay was her favourite material. Her Cluster contribution, titled Symbiosis, is an exploration of materials that are used in ceramic making. Glazes, porcelain and paper are striped apart, melted or fired, and then assembled at lower temperatures.
Symbiosis #10 | Ana-Belen Montero
The result is a series of complex and unusual shapes that celebrate and draw attention to the process of making as well as to the result. Different textures and colours burst out of the pieces, and thought Montero works with her intuition rather than strong references, she does note that the subconscious inspiration for this series is her interest in the oceans and the textures and shapes of the deep sea.
Symbiosis #11 | Ana-Belen Montero
“For these works, I had to invent a personal way of working with ceramic materials For my Symbiosis series, the volumes are made of glazes. I let the glazes melt at high temperatures,” explains Montero. “I close the process by assembling these volumes with sponges or with other porcelain elements.
Eastern Europe-Cereal Vessels series | Ana-Belen Montero
“The sponges, recycled in porcelain, are linked to the sea but also to humans that have been using them in everyday life.”
Some of Montero’s pieces are purely sculptural, others function as vessels and vases. Her experimental approach is partly to keep herself interested and on a path of material exploration, and partly to ensure she captures a sense of curiosity in the viewer.
Western Europe-Cereal Vessels series | Ana-Belen Montero
She works from a playful and inquisitive place, without much routine or process in the way she approaches each work or collection.
Like many craftsman and designers who work with clay, the material’s ability to metamorphosis as it’s fired and glazed is one of the great attractions for Montero.
“For me, there is a direct connection between the human hand and spontaneous creativity. I need to feel things with my hands at a very primary level.”
Pink Porcelain Spikes | Kira Ni
YOU CAN BUY ANA-BELEN MONTERO’S PIECES THROUGH OUR ONLINE SHOP
This fascination with how materials respond to the touch of the maker and transform themselves in the process is also the driving artistic motivation for Kira Ni. The ceramic artist creates hand-built porcelain structures from her Estonian studio and her most recent work is inspired by the minimal lines of Scandinavian design. The peculiar character of the collection Ni has contributed to the Cluster community transcends the clean lines and humble shapes normally associated with Nordic design.
As part of the Cluster online exhibition and shop, Ni has contributed a collection of multicoloured and oddly satisfying spiked objects that fit almost perfectly into the palm of a hand. This limited collection, named Spikes, is a once-off set that was completed in 2019.
Ni gravitates towards porcelain because of its unique responsiveness to her touch: just the temperature of her hands can affect the end shape.
“Porcelain is very moody material to work, after working with stoneware clay the closest I would describe it is butter,” says Ni. “The challenges that it brings while working with it is what makes it the most appealing to me.”
Porcelain Spikes | Kira Ni
Blue Porcelain Spikes | Kira Ni
The colours of the Spikes are inspired by pastel hues of the painted wooden houses in Tallinn, Estonia.
Ni hopes that the objects draw the viewer in with a strong desire to touch and hold them, to feel their solidity and weight in their own hands.
Born in Latvia, and now living in Estonia via London and Malta, Ni has an eclectic mix of inspirations that she brings to the work in her studio.
“I have moved countries several times I definitely can say those surroundings, people, nature, and the life I led in that particular country is what inspires my work. I like to work on clean simple lines at the moment, creating a very calm Scandinavian look.”
Thank you for reading,
Katie De Klee & Cluster Team.