What Remains

Ceramic and textile exploration
2025
Through a process of material based experimentation, I developed a technique that resulted in a series of vases. Each piece serves as a canvas to explore the relationship between two materials and to push the boundaries of their interaction. Inspired by the connection between textile and body, this project investigates the dynamic principle of tension and release.
To create each form, I envision the textile as a holder and the clay as the filler.
The fabric is sewn into patterned molds, allowing the flexible textile to contain liquid slip clay. As the clay fills the textile, tension builds and the fabric stretches and responds to the internal pressure. The soft textile and fluid clay merge into an inflated shape, blending their distinct qualities. Seams, pleats, and added volume emphasize the materiality of the textile, leaving intricate imprints on the ceramic surface. Once dry, the piece is fired with the textile still in place. Because the fabric is made from unbleached cotton, it burns away cleanly during firing, leaving minimal residue. The resulting ash is then used to create a glaze, returning the textile to the ceramic in another form.
The textile remains as a released imprint, and its cotton becomes part of the glaze. The finished vases stand as quiet memories of the process, revealing the dialogue between materials and the fragility of their combination.