16 / The Vessels

02/03/23

I’ve decided that I want to create a series of vessels in the organic/asymmetrical style I experimented with when I was last in the ceramics workshop.

Despite the fact that Wabi Sabi is centred around tea-ceremonies and therefore various pots, tea cups, bowls etc. are an integral aspect – I’ve never actually contemplated the meaning or function of a ‘vessel’ before.

Coincidentally, an artist was suggested on my instagram feed – a reel promoting a song she had made about “the journey of being a vessel for creation and letting art be fluid.”

It made me realise that to be a vessel is something belonging to both human and non-human. Not only that, but you become a vessel in order to make one… It’s spiritual significance suddenly dawned on me & the ouroboros symbol came to mind..

So what started as curiosity turned to almost necessity to my project and I started sketching designs for vessels.

I wanted to incorporate bits of foliage and twigs if I could to further blur the line between human/non-human elements.

For this pot in particular I’m hoping to tie a piece of bark to it using string.