Organic Ceramics

Award-winning ceramic artist and founder of Danu Ceramics, Dublin-based Ruth Power shares her latest collections and passion for artisan design

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Your ceramics have a really beautiful organic irregularity. What inspired this design aesthetic? My work is a combination of organic and elegant, that displays well in both rustic and urban settings. Many of my bowls are made from slipcast porcelain; this gives a very light and refined look, however, the hand-cut wavy free-form rim and painterly glaze technique adds an organic touch. As a result, every piece is one-of-a-kind, despite this slip-casting technique being the process used by factories to produce uniform pieces. I believe that objects created from clay should retain a natural quality. I want my pieces to show an appreciation of the integrity of natural objects and processes, with evidence of being made by human hands. I also use a hand-building technique for my planters, ring dishes and black clay bowls. This technique was inspired by primitive ceramics techniques, natural forms and the organic nature of the clay, itself. Moreover, I always love to have part of the piece un-glazed, so the raw clay is a feature in itself. I think anything too uniform can look sterile.