British CERAMICS BIENNIAL 2025
My course and I, took a visit to the British Ceramics Biennial 2025. This was a great experience as we got to see the ‘Award’ exhibition and also the ‘Fresh’ exhibition. I personally loved the ‘Fresh’ display as there was a massive variety in work and they also showcased a lot of artists. My favourite artist from the Fresh exhibition was Catalin Filip. His work explored the materiality of clay and the qualities & potentials clay has in a contemporary format. He used the classic art gallery plinths to display his work but also used them as a sculptural addition which further aided his work.
Furthermore, the ‘Award’ exhibition showcased grander bodies of work. I’d say again, the work on show was also hugely contrasted to each other. The space used was fantastic, but I couldn’t help but think that some works could have been exhibited differently, perhaps the use of the natural lighting could help emphasise artists work.
My personal favourite from the show was Kyra Cane. Her work presented various points in the ceramic making process; add a little too much moisture, or too much pressure, the structural integrity of the forms could crumble. This process was tied to the ecological crisis we are currently living through. The pure fragility of earth and our ecosystem could be directly correlated to the fragility of elements in ceramics. I thought this statement was powerful and not too complex, therefore coming across as a very well-rounded collection of work.
Whilst in Stoke-on-Trent, we also visited Potclays. Here, we got a talk about how they actually excavate clay from the ground and how they filter out any unwanted materials in the process of making studio-ready clay. It was a fascinating experience and makes you question where our pre-packaged clay comes from. As a newbie in the ceramics world, a lot of the information did feel overwhelming at times but upon reflection, I took a lot away from my experience there.
Catalin Filip- BCB 2025
Kyra Cane- BCB 2025
Catalin Filip- BCB 2025
Potclays & the variety of clays they have on offer
Kyra Cane- BCB 2025