Duality Project

For this project, we were tasked with creating a ceramic piece that explores the theme of duality.  In my piece I explore the idea of something being full and empty at the same time.  While my bowl can holds solid objects, it is impossible to fill this bowl with any liquid.  This bowl would allow the wind to pass through it, let the rain empty out of it and watch as the snow fell and then melted out of it.  While it has permanence it does not occupy the same space that a conventional bowl does.  This bowl fails in the function of a typical bowl, and in this way is both useless (in terms of conventional bowl use) and useful at the same time.  It is full of holes, yet is whole as an art piece. 

I used SM-1 black overglaze on this piece. The flat black color smooths out any nicks or dents in the piece and helps to eliminate any distractions other than the form of this piece.  I used coil building in order to construct this bowl, and then cut holes using an exacto knife once the clay reached the end of the leather-hard stage.

I am confident that this is the strongest ceramic work I have made this year.  I think that it explores the theme of the project well and is technically sound in its construction and quality.  The surface of the bowl is well smoothed and crack-free, and the glaze is applied such that any minor mistakes are invisible.