Auric Rifts in Volcanic Crust

Soundtrack: The Rip - Portishead

This extraordinary ceramic piece challenges our perceptions of beauty through its deliberate embrace of imperfection. The work captures a moment of transformation—where raw elemental forces meet deliberate human touch.

The vessel's exterior presents a symphony of textural contrast: a deeply cratered surface that evokes the primordial landscape of cooling lava. Its blackened terrain, reminiscent of scorched earth after intense combustion, creates a canvas of shadows and depth. These carbonized layers reveal the object's journey through extreme heat, documenting the kiln's transformative power.

What elevates this work beyond mere craft is the striking presence of gold along its natural fractures. These luminous veins thread through the dark surface, transforming structural vulnerability into aesthetic strength. The golden seams don't merely adorn the surface—they accentuate the object's rugged topography, highlighting rather than concealing its fractured character.

The interplay between rough texture and smooth metallic elements creates a compelling visual dialogue. This contrast draws attention to the surface variations—each crack and fissure becoming an essential compositional element rather than a flaw to be hidden.

The materiality of this work speaks to fundamental questions about value and perception. The rough, blackened clay embodies primal, earthbound qualities, while the gleaming gold references precious materials and refined craftsmanship. Their coexistence in a single form suggests a harmonious resolution between opposing elements.

"Auric Rifts in Volcanic Crust" stands as an eloquent exploration of texture, material and transformation. Its dramatic surface invites closer inspection, rewarding the viewer with intricate details that reveal themselves gradually, like geological features emerging from darkness.

2024

Ceramics, glaze, wood ash, gold luster

Size: H:17cm, D: 18cm