Artists Statement

During the final year of my applied art degree I have been working in the medium of ceramic and textile. I have a textile background designing and making costumes. Stage costumes need to be larger than life and this love of theatricality filters into all of my work. I like to work three dimensionally and I am inspired by colour and the use of texture. I want my pieces to have a generosity of spirit, joyfulness and a narrative which is accessible to all.

At present I am exploring the relationship between nature and the manmade. I am fascinated by the way nature continually strives to soften our manmade environment. The manmade is static and unyielding, while nature is fluid, constantly changing with the seasons. The manmade can be grey and lifeless while nature goes on a journey through the colour spectrum. In my pieces the ceramic represents the manmade while fleece felted through the ceramic represents nature. I want to show how the manmade can be subtly changed by nature in the same way as man is affected by nature and his environment. I want my seasonal sculpture to be predominantly a celebration of nature, however it does also hint at a more sinister message. There is arrogance to our carefully constructed cities. We feel superior to nature and continue to dismiss the environmental needs of the planet. Nature continues to surprise us with its ability to destroy; our ivory towers will inevitably become the ruins of the future. In my piece both manmade and nature support each other, the natural rhythm of the seasons is retained.

To realise my ceramic pieces I make plaster moulds in which to press mould the clay. The highly textured surface of these moulded pieces references elements of the city streets. The ceramic can be further manipulated with the use of oxides and glazes to produce a hostile manmade quality. Interesting edges can be created to represent decay and holes and are cut into the moulded clay in its leather hard state before firing to allow for the fleece to be felted through.

I have been inspired by the work of the land artist Andy Goldsworthy. His work is easily accessible and his natural sculptures bring with them a joy of discovery, a sense of seeing something familiar for the first time. I hope that I bring this quality into my work.

Carolyn Ward.