LIGHT & SHADOW - Construction Theme I - young talents
Theis Lorentzen, Pernille Pontoppidan Pedersen, Alikka Garder Petersen DK
Exhibition 9 January – 1 February 2014
Construction and other constellations – in light & shadow meet order & chaos.
For this first themed exhibition of the year the exhibitors have related to construction, yet they stay fundamentally different in their ideas, sensuality, expression, form.. - function and aesthetics.
Alikka Garder Petersen works with light and shadow in geometric space, Theis Lorentzen creates a dynamic universe of objects in colour harmony and balance, while Pernille Pedersen Pontoppidan challenges chaos and randomness in expressive installations.
THEIS LORENTZEN - Animated Abstractions
THEIS LORENTZEN creates "an animated world of objects and wall installations, where colours and forms are part of a dynamic interaction. Objects and juxtapositions provide a fun, simple and harmonious universe where play mixes with beauty and perfection, and where delight, serenity and the beautyfull are in focus. Colour and texture are put together in a simple graphic form which gives an animated, dreamy and almost unreal expression.."
Educated in 2009-12 at the Danish Design School/ Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design & Conservation, Bornholm. Product design for Kähler Ceramics 2013.. PERNILLE PONTOPPIDAN PEDERSEN - Plinth
She cultivates contrasts and seeks out areas of tension. "The ceramics are grateful in its tradition and history to deepen and perpetuate the culture to new dimensions. The tradition gives much substance to work with to build contrasting works that grow on ceramics tradition, but move it toward new directions. - Challenging the work practices and cultivating the final object with its errors, or non-error.."
Born in May 1987. Educated in 2012 at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design & Conservation, Bornholm. EXHIBITION 2013: 'Software & Glorified Ingratitude' Copenhagen Ceramics. ALIKKA GARDER PETERSEN - Movements & Moments
"My overall concept is to work with space, light and material. All places effects these three elements much in the bodily experience of a place and space. It is in the shape that angles, definition of space, color, light/shadow surfaces, material clash at once define a space and give it tactility. This I have translated into my primary material, porcelain. "
Born in 1971 - Educated in 2003 at the Danish Design School, glass and ceramics (1 ½ years - interdisciplinary). INSPIRATION from travel and residency: Japan - lectures and tutorial at Osaka University learned lacquer work, Nepal - inspiration, material, peace, ethics, London - work in paper, Oxford - light objects by Margerite O'Rocke UK...
Each exhibitor has described their personal concept and basic philosophy and answered the questions: - What is different from your previous works?.. Unique, new and surprising?.. Interesting for the viewer?.. Inspiration, origin and originality?.. Material and technique? - 10 significant professional events..?
THEIS LORENTZEN - Animated Abstractions
The project is based on a module system of shapes and colours that can be stacked and linked together like building blocks. They are simple parts, when put together turn into a complex unit.
The objects are characterized by movement and flow, stiffened, fluid motion, chopped up into pieces, a 'flow' in stop-motion. A dissection of nuance and modulation shape and colour - perfect, nice and flawless, without a trace of real life trivial difficulties. The beauty of a synthetic 'Disney fixation'.
The colours are kept within a limited palette and runs in a fine graduated scale, with only a small leap of valour and tone, they are delicate and gentle, harmonious and balanced. Likewise with the forms that are variations of the same simple geometric element, a cone, varying in size, angle and cutting.
The new pieces are an extension of my previous works, but differ in that I bring more colours into play, creating more dynamic objects and remove references to the function. The works consist of many more smaller elements in many more colours. Single elements are more inclined and in varied sizes, allowing more dynamism. The new works hang or lie down with very small contact points, giving a light and airy look. They are in stained unglazed porcelain and do not have a back side or bottom, and thereby allowed to be placed in different ways.
I have explored numerous possibilities for combinations and variations how the object is constantly changing, shifts slightly compared to the previous one and gets its own personality. I have strived to achieve harmony and balance between the parts, yet also cause it to be dynamic and moving.
- My project is also interesting by virtue of the choice of materials. The texture in the matte and monochrome materials, combined with the fragmented design language, offers a special atmospheric, dreamy and almost unreal expression. Coloured porcelain is seen most commonly for functional objects, It is new to use these qualities for non-functional exhibition objects.
- The pieces are form studies, a play with and study of form, colour, mood and intuition. They create a universe, an amusement park or a dreamscape, and is mainly just to be experienced, seen and enjoyed - the subtle colours and shapes, gradients and tones.
- My inspiration comes clearly from playing - a play with beauty and perfection, harmony and balance - a play with construction and structure, complexity and simplicity. I create a fun, informal and animated world with inspiration in the digital and the mechanical, axles and crankshafts, graphs and charts, but in a simplified, distorted and surreal way.
- Casting in stained porcelain slip fired to 1260°C and then water polished and epoxy glued.
Graduated from The Danish Design School, Bornholm (ceramics) 2009-12 (The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation). Kerteminde Art School (ceramics) 1998-99, Nic. O. Schmidt bronze foundry in 1999, Precious Foundry Francois Deletaille 2000-2007 .. SELECTED EXHIBITIONS school projects Grønbechsgaard 2010/12 and Formland 2011 Graduation Exhibition Bornholm Art Museum and School of Library 2012; Upcoming Designers (Formland) 2012 .. ASSISTANT A.Tophøj 2012 (Elitist Folklore - Copenhagen Ceramics), Ole Jensen 2012 (Form & Fantasy), Anne Tophøj & Steen Ipsen 2011 (Extrudox A/S - Ann Linnemann Gallery) .. TEACHER Danish Design School, Bornholm 2012-2013, Kofoed School and AOF 2013; - EMPLOYEE Ditte Fischer 2013 Product design for Kähler Ceramics 2013 ..
PERNILLE PONTOPPIDAN PEDERSEN - Plinth
The podium is dominant in the work. What supports and elevates the work, makes the work what it is. Art is elevated objects. Raised on the podium in the given white space occupied by the viewer in almost ceremonial matters. Pure white podiums revealed in the spotlight elevates an unthoughtful immediate ceramic lump that does not deserve exaltation. I want to search for dialogue and contrast between the podium and 'the piece'. The viewer must unconsciously decide which of the objects deserves exaltation. The institution's control is supported in the podium's purity, order and structure - whereas the art's devilish, overstated, emotional and uncontrolled is symbolized in a lump of clay made in rapid chaotic movements with the intention to provide randomness and an uncontrolled object.
In my previous works, I worked a lot with a synergy of the anti-aesthetic through a wild mix of form, color and materials. In my exhibition at Copenhagen Ceramics, there were different expressions brought together in an attempt to achieve harmony in diversity. The works for this exhibition arose from a new idea and thought of letting ceramic plinths be the mainstay in the works. I have previously used ceramic plinths in my works, this time I let podiums be the dominant element in the works.
- I have in my work always used many different materials and colours. This time I made the conscious decision to keep it colour neutral in glaze and type of clay. I have instead allowed the different types of clay within a colour tone create the surface of the pieces. It is new for me to work in a prettier and cleaner appearance. I wondered if I could obtain my expression, in the new pieces.
- It is entirely up to the viewer whether my projects are of interest to the outside world. I carry out my projects for the simple reason that it is a great joy for me, and I also have views of the heart I would like to share with those, who are curious about my art. I would say that my art will be interesting to the world in that I work with this material with an immediacy and honesty. I want to place ceramics as art. Want to create this without some innate prejudices and fixed patterns. I dream of having the ceramic art world taking itself seriously as an art form. The fact that it moves away from its present stance; an inferiority wasteland between arts and crafts.
- Distance to the world and the city mentally and not necessarily physical. Escapism. Contrasts between rich and poor, between ugly and beautiful. A visit to Lidl to inspect the poor quality and cultivating aesthetic, or lack thereof. Knowledge of hazardous materials and their properties in ceramics. I get excited when I discover some new values of ceramics materials. I want to find new characteristics of materials used in the traditional manner. Using Danish blue earthenware to create an idiom in the same way as that managed the glaze, with the use of its plasticity in the modeling process. Creating a roaring whirlpool of foam using crushed glass jars. All materials undergoing a transformation in the kiln and turn out surprising after cooling down gives me an impetus to continue to create.
- The pieces are based on materials in various types of clay, this time the white clays. Porcelain, white stoneware, earthenware, white charmotte, dog hair, icing, crushed glass.
Born in May 1987. Graduated in 2012 at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation, Bornholm. EXHIBITIONS 2013: 'Software & Glorified Ingratitude', Copenhagen Ceramics DK; 'Terres - Copenhagen Ceramics Invites', Galerie Maria Lund, Paris; 'Good Bones' - juried exhibition for young artists, Copenhagen City Hall, - 2012: 'Edge/Kant', Exhibition Building KADK, 'SiO2' Graduate exhibition KADK on Bornholm Art Museum and Designer Zoo, Copenhagen; 'Bornholm Juried Spring Exhibition' Svanekegaarden, 'Process' Grønbechsgaard, Bornholm ..
ALIKKA GARDER PETERSEN - Movements & Moments
Alikka Garder Petersen sees his work for the exhibition as a study of material and space. She shows two different groups of works: one is small panels to hang on the wall. The objects are mainly soft, but tension curves are formed by a play with the illusion and a flexible element within a stated frame. Just as the previous 'peek boxes' is here created a snapshot of a story/process. Something has happened prior to the freeze, and you can form ideas about what is happening next. Words a colleague said on them: graphical, aesthetic, calm but dynamic, humorous.
The other group is an enlargement of the flexible element partially freed of the frame. Still a play and investigation of space and curves working with boundaries and the respect for the material, porcelain. All objects are simple in coloured castable. To add excitement, a humorous commentary on an otherwise aesthetic form, is added either a hard yellow glaze or elements of wood, playing against the porcelain.
This process has been very experimental. Distinct from earlier, starting point has been physical 3D sketches on paper. I have transferred some of the paper's potential and quality for design. Transferred to porcelain, I have technically a very short time for the design itself. Therefore, the final forms are much more spontaneous and immediate.
- The surprise is to evoke the illusion of making a hard material soft and flexible.
- The interesting is presenting the viewer to my choice of freeze in the process/movement. Give the viewer a version of how I experience space and material.
- My inspiration is a study of space and utilization of this in paper. A sketch of light and shadow, space, inside and outside the frame. Originality is the transfer from one material to another in one, amusing consistency between the two materials and a respect and understanding for the materials paper and porcelain. The finished works are the originality the easy and humorous tale this frozen image of a process tells. Last but not least an understated combination of materials.
- Materials are coloured clay castable, glaze and wood. Since leaving school, I have been deeply in love with moulding technique with all that is involved. Plaster's precision with very thin edges, - porcelain together with light. I have developed my own techniques with plaster and castable that makes my designs freer.
- My goal is always shaping on the terms of the material, so that the material qualities show. Simplicity, honesty and contrasts are the means of expression. The moulding materials give some limitations that create the framework for the design which I love and can continue to explore and push to the limits.
Born in 1971 - Graduated in 2003 at the Danish Design, glass and ceramics (1 ½ years - interdisciplinary)
INSPIRATION from travel and residency: Japan - lectures and guidance Osaka University taught laquered, Nepal - inspiration, material, peace, ethics, London - work in paper , Oxford - light objects Margerite O'Rocke UK ... SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 'Biennale for Crafts and Design' 2011, the Danish Arts Foundation buy three lamps in 2010; 'Dina Vejling' Odense 2009; 'Hovdala Slott' Hässleholm, Sweden 2008; 'Solo Exhibition' Officinet, Copenhagen 2007; Biennale for Crafts and Design 2007; 'Light' Damhuset, Lyngby 2007; Represented in Gallery Nørby 2005-06; 'Biennale for Crafts and Design' Trapholt Art Museum and North Jutland Art Museum 2004.
