Details.
Pit firing process.
«Flesh» is a triptych inspired by consumerism, the impact our habits have on the environment, and the human alienation from nature. There are fragments of food, their plastic wrappings, different body parts, and other daily objects; they are a collage of textures and shapes. These pieces were cooked in a pit fire inside of the sand of a local beach. This approach allowed me to involve the local community in the creative process. The aim was to reconnect with nature and empower them to create change. It was a collective reflective exercise about our relationship with the natural environment.
The main materials are earthenware and porcelain. I created moulds of other objects to obtain different shapes and textures, and then merged them together. The control of the drying of the clay was essential, especially considering they would be pit fired at extreme temperatures, this was a technical challenge. During the pit firing process, instead of using traditional pigments, I used recycled and reclaimed wood, with other things representative of the artificial and natural environment; copper wire, seaweed, nails, bananas, etc. The interaction of the clay with those materials created the final colours of the ceramic.
Piece #1
Name of work:Flesh II
Year of creation:2020
Materials:Pigmented earthenware
Volume of exhibition (W, L, H, in cm.): 12 x 15 x 41
Weight (in gr.): 1260
Piece #2
Name of work:Flesh I
Year of creation:2020
Materials:White earthenware and porcelain slip
Volume of exhibition (W, L, H, in cm.): 13 x 14 x 44
Weight (in gr.): 1430
Piece #3
Name of work:Flesh III
Year of creation:2020
Materials:White earthenware and porcelain slip
Volume of exhibition (W, L, H, in cm.): 13 x 15 x 45
Weight (in gr.): 1413