The porcelain exhibition pieces weave uniquely varied layers of BoomWehmeyer’s art practice into a family of functional variables juxtaposed with its delicate porcelain foldings. Judith created the first collection of seating objects named ‚Qing Zuo’ in 2007 and ‚Porcelain Topographies‘ in 2010. This series comprised stools and benches with ‚upholsteries‘ made of all-white porcelain that resembled cushions or draped blankets. She crafted these elements using an old method of pressing malleable clay slabs into moulds and filling the internal space with a structure of small cells. After applying the glaze and firing in large kilns, these seats are robust enough to sit on them.
BoomWehmeyer developed concepts of folding the material and showing the techniques that allow the porcelain to vitrify a new strength. From the ‚Square Fold‘ via the ‚Center Fold‘ to the intricate multiple folding of the ‚Big Fold‘ that was created from a five meter long slab, she created a family of variables. Before the fold, the porcelain is almost without dimension but by folding bridges new connections are created giving strength to the material. The fold allows a combination of accidental and natural processes coming together by the artists hand.
The collection contains 32 stools of porcelain, all in different colors such as celadon, yellow, chinese green, celadon blue, transparant, yellow, silver and golden glazes. It showcases folding as core element to create its vitrified strength. The porcelain exhibition pieces weave the varied layers of BoomWehmeyer’s art practice into a family of functional forms. A collection of hands-on artistic processes with Chinese porcelain. This collection of objects is about bringing porcelain into a new experience through old techniques and unfolding the material quality by working with a hands-on evolution of material character and implementations. Through the use of folding a group of porcelain variables were created that unite in processes, strength and function.
The collection Vitrified Variables shows a collection bringing out new relations with the porcelain material. The objects showing different folding techniques that allows the porcelain to vitrify its strength. Before the fold, the porcelain slab is malleable and almost without dimension but by folding bridge-connections are created giving strength to the material.
The objects are build up through traditional local techniques were the artist presses porcelain slabs into moulds creating an infrastructure of walls during which the firing creates its vitrified structure. By the use of classic Chinese glazes and porcelain color experiments the variables of shapes emphasize the play with its hollow inside and solid outside world.
Working with porcelain is about this relation between the artists idea of the manual and the behavior of the processes of the material. Clay is known to behave as a local material with its own qualities, only a part of the process can be directed by the artist. Through its forming and drying process the makers hands takes lead but during firing the material always takes its own direction. This accidental and pragmatic combination is also something that inspires BoomWehmeyer studio work in China when looking at local interventions of how people live with materials. The fold can lay out a new perspective on how we perceive not merely porcelain but interpret the narrative around us.
The work is exclusive made for the Gallery Schuessler. It’s been a collaboration of hard work between ourselves, our hands-on work in China & Netherlands, Karena Schuessler gallery and a great team of people and organizations who participated to realize this collection. Come and experience this amazing journey of working with the expanding possibilities in usage of this porcelain material.
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For more information please email info@boomwehmeyer.com
