Sam Ludden Ceramics : June 2011

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Figurative Man - Proposal for Changchun Ceramics Symposium 2011

Proposal 2

My second proposal is to explore the development of my figurative sculptures, samples of which you can see in the photos below. These figures are borne from years of accumulated experiences which have until recently only existed in my sketch books. They reflect my roots in Aotearoa New Zealand and my affiliation with the natural world - and they study the way the figure fits into natural space.

Medium: High-fired ceramic stoneware

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Botany Pots - Proposal for Changchun Ceramics Symposium 2011

Concept pots for 2011 Changchun Ceramics Symposium:Proposal 1

The theme behind these pots is "My Botany Diary". I would collect flora and fauna from Changchun and imprint them onto the surface of the pots to record the journey of my discovery of Jilin Province, China.

Below are examples of what the pots would look like. These are pictures of unfinished pots - not yet glazed or fired. All pots are 500mm high x 300mm diameter.

I would like to fire to stoneware temperatures using slips and celadon glaze to decorate the surface. I would also like to experiment with a larger pot of about 800mm high x 400mm.

Pot 1

Pot 2

Pot 3

Pot 4

3 Pots Together

ABOUT SAM'S HINAKI SCULPTURE

The Hinaki sculpture represents the traditional stories, passed down from generation to generation, of the New Zealand native eel. The form of this eel sculpture is based on the shape of Maori traditional eel nets which are called 'hinaki'.

This work is a homage to the ecology of the rivers and waters of our world which are under constant threat from urban development and human pollution. The natural world of our land and our rivers are of huge cultural and historical significance to the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Eels are inconic creatures that have been woven into countless stories over the centuries, stories told by both young and old alike. The hope is that this sculpture will visually communicate those stories in a way that increases understanding of NZ culture and inspires people across cultures to work together to protect and preserve our natural world.