Biography/ Process/ Inspiration/ Stockists
Biography.
Anja's work explores the smooth, translucent and pure material properties of porcelain, through experimental manipulation of the soft clay surface. Some pieces are made in a variety of other clays, rough and black or cracking up as layers are breaking the rules of traditional ceramic technique.
Figurative details are taken from religious figurines, the human body and ornamental surfaces. These are then transferred as delicate 3D relief back onto the wheel thrown vessel walls, appearing to push through the surface of the vessels with a sense of animation and metamorphosis.
The metaphorical textures and forms are evocative and the viewer will create their own narrative, depending on personal memory and imagination. Some work features ceramic transfers, for decoration or story telling.
To learn more about Anja, please visit her instagram. If you are interested in collaborating with Anja or commissioning a piece please contact her via email or telephone.
Anja is based at Cockpit Arts Studios in Deptford, South-East London. Open studio’s are usually held in July and December.
Work is available to purchase online or from the stockists listed below.
Process.
This time-lapsed video shows the process of applying face relief to a bowl that has been thrown and then dried with a heat gun. My work, inspired by religious iconography, features the Madonna’s face that I have casted moulds from. My practice involves pressing the mould into the clay whilst it is still wet, this may look easy, however applying the correct amount of pressure in order to create the relief without ripping the clay is tricky, as is manipulating the shape without making it collapse. Potters spend many years practicing in order to create a perfectly round bowl, I am often called insane for using these techniques that involve ruining the symmetry and risking the stability of my vessels!
Inspiration.
This cabinet was the starting point of using face relief on my work. I tried all of these figurines and ended up with one which I have been in love with for a long time. She is shown directly below.
Below Left: Saint Paraskiva
A beautiful icon painted in tempura by my friend Adriana. In good saintly fashion she gave up her wealth to follow an ascetic life and help others. I cherish these icons as they mean so much in the world of religion which I am not part of but fascinated by.
Why does humanity have this strong desire to elevate individuals then and now? Do they symbolise the best we can be? Nor sure why she is holding a feather. I will have to ask my friend.
Below Right: Santa Veronica
This lovely icon was painted in tempura by my beautiful friend adriana ionascu when we were both still students. Veronica apparently mopped jesuses brow while he was carrying his cross to Golgotha resulting in his face being imprinted on the cloth. I added the gun because if she had had it then maybe she could have freed jesus by force before he was nailed to a cross. I believe we live in better times and I am please that nailing people to crosses has gone out of fashion.
Madonna.
Her face has been part of my work for a number of years. She belongs to a dear friend and I can only visit her by appointment to take prints of her face which i use for my work.
She is made from cheap plaster but has the most wonderful details. It's been modelled with a lot of care and the artist really caught the gentle pose of a mum holding her baby. She is just wonderful.
Face Relief.
Close up detail of the face relief taken from the madonna figurine above as it features on minimal madonna beakers.
Face details taken from religious figurines have been one of my most enduring designs. The face of a saint becomes a metaphor for idealism. On some pieces layers of liquid clay are used to obscure the relief and create a sense of instability, wile the use of skulls visualises what we are most scared of. Torn rims create a sense of the incomplete unfinished, with an indication of the object being a significant artefact, a fragment of a larger form.
Stockists.
London.
CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS, LONDON
63 Great Russell Street,
Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3BF
Tel: 020 7242 9644. Email: contemporary.ceramics@virgin.net
http://www.cpaceramics.com
CECILIA COLMAN GALLERY
67 St. John’s Wood High Street,
London NW87NL
www.ceciliacolmangallery.com
South West England.
FLUX GALLERY
18 Upper Maudlin Street,
Bristol, BS28DJ
www.fluxbristol.co.uk
THE STRATFORD GALLERY
32 Sheep Street,
Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6EE
www.thestratfordgallery.co.uk
East of England.
IMAGINE GALLERY, SUFFOLK
Hall Street, Long Melford, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 9JL
Tel: 01787 378786. Email: imaginegallery@hotmail.co.uk
http://www.imaginegallery.co.uk
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR CRAFT AND DESIGN, SLEAFORD
Navigation Wharf, Carre Street,
Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7TW
Tel: +44 (0)1529 308710
info@nationalcraftanddesign.org.uk
http://www.nationalcraftanddesign.org.uk/
Northern England.
THE CRAFT CENTRE AND DESIGN GALLERY LEEDS
City Art Gallery, Leeds, LS1 3AB
0113 247 8241
craftcentre-leeds@btconnect.com
http://www.craftcentreleeds.co.uk
SHELL HOUSE GALLERY, LEDBURY
8 Tudor Yard, Ledbury, HR8 2BZ
Tel: 01531 632 557
Facebook/Twitter : shell house gallery / shellhouseart
Email: info@shellhousegallery.co.uk
http://www.shellhousegallery.co.uk