Professor Takeshi Yasuda, ceramics

26 June - 30 August 2003

With the gravity; Deform to Form

"Clay is the most remarkable material of all. To me its best quality is its plasticity, only the hands are needed to form it. It responds to feather touch and hammer blow accurately and proportionally and remains stable unless external forces, 'The Earth's Gravity' strive to contradict this.

Potters have fought against the earth's gravity for more than five thousand years. My most recent work falls into two categories, the 'Unfolding' and 'Folding' series. The 'Unfolding' series originates from my throwing failures. Pieces are over stretched and collapsed on the wheel, then they are hung upside down, stretched back and dried. The 'Folding' series could also be referred to as the 'Slumping' series a technique better known in glass forming. Porcelain often deforms badly when fired but rather than discouraging this sporadic movement I encourage it in order to discover new shapes and forms.

Clay is generally formed in its natural 'plastic' state. Clay becomes more plastic as it is mixed with water and again when heated in the kiln. 'Unfolding' uses the former states of plasticity for forming; 'Folding' uses the latter. The earth's gravity (deforming force) acts to contrive both. I try to nudge and encourage clay to move a little bit further."