Wouter Vandenbranden Art

Hi, I'm Wouter.
I create ceramics that embrace the beauty of imperfection. I feel a kinship with the wabi-sabi philosophy—a view that finds beauty in imperfection and transience. It's not about avoiding mistakes but embracing what emerges spontaneously, as if the clay itself speaks and indicates what needs to happen.

Nature is my primary source of inspiration. I translate landscapes into a soft palette of earthy tones—soft browns, muted greens, and grays that reflect the traces of time. Occasionally, I break this tranquility with brighter accents that draw attention to the underlying structure. By working with weathered textures and colors, I confront transience. I create objects that appear worn, telling a story of wear and time, while working with ceramics, a material that is practically eternal.

My work moves between throwing and building techniques. I don't see my techniques as fixed, but as a continuous dialogue between maker, material, and chance. The throwing technique usually forms the basis but is often supplemented and challenged by further modifications.

Functionality remains an essential aspect of ceramics for me, but not at all costs. I'm willing to sacrifice some practical usability for artistic expression. A vase doesn't have to be perfectly practical—sometimes a limited opening width or an unexpected height is what gives the object its unique character.

Experimentation is at the core of my creative process. Sometimes I use unexpected carriers that burn away during firing—everyday objects that create irregular shapes. Each firing is an adventure where materials tell their own story.

For me, innovation is not a search for the absolute new, but a subtle game of rearrangement and nuance. I believe that nothing is truly original—everything has already been thought of or made. My challenge lies in reinterpreting existing elements, adding a personal touch that gives familiar forms a different resonance. Each object is a new translation of ancient stories, by adding something or by connecting differently. My innovation lies in subtle shifts, gently stretching known boundaries and introducing just those small unexpected elements that surprise.

My ceramic installations are accompanied by a carefully curated soundtrack that enhances the sensory experience. Just as each ceramic object tells its own story, the musical lines create an additional layer of experience. The selected tracks resonate with the texture, energy, and emotion of my works – an auditory dialogue exploring the boundaries between sound and form, where chance and intention meet.

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