ghtpiece story
“Beautifully balanced harmonious design,
a poetic expression of text-book minimalism.”
Judge’s statement
I was commissioned to make lampshades for a kitchen, an open brief. I used bone-china slip for translucency, making a mould and casting a set of shades. My clients were delighted. The lampshades were practical, washable, durable with a natural feel.
Flicking through Ceramic Review magazine, an advert jumped out – calling for entries to the biennial ceramics competition in Geneva, Switzerland, with the theme of light. I’m very intuitive, and had an immediate visualisation when I saw the ad.
I was inspired to create a larger and more ambitious piece, the maximum size that could fit in my kiln. This lightpiece, large and delicate before firing, was very technically challenging. Making something so big and so thin that it would collapse before it was fired. I had several failures before I made it work.
I sent the finished piece to Geneva.
I was very excited and happy to win a prize, a validation of my vision.
I finessed the technique to make more pieces in a range of shapes.
In time I found that making lightpieces did not sit easily alongside other studio ceramics work, so I have stopped making them.
Translucent Bone China Lampshade
Weight 1.1 Kg Height 230mm x Diameter 335mm
“I am over the moon about winning this prize. It is fantastic to be recognised in an international competition.”
The prestigious Bruckner Foundation Prize for the Promotion of ceramics was awarded to Sarah Jenkins for her “Furrowed Dome” lamp. The jury commented on the harmony and delicacy of the proportions and described the entry as a “poetic demonstration of minimalism.” For the 15th International biennial Ceramic competition at Carouge, Geneva, in 2015. There were around 500 entrants taking up the theme of ‘Ceramic lamp’. An international jury selected 58 objects from 22 countries to make up the exhibition La Lampe Ceramique at the Musee de Carouge. The jury assessed the entries anonymously, using creativity, innovation, expression, humour and technical ability as judging criteria.