DESIGN NAME: Collection POP App
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Wallplates and Vases
INSPIRATION: Pottery from Boleslawiec is a traditional local craftmanship from the region of Lower-Silesia. It is worldwide known and recognizible for its stamp technique with the use of Cobalt blue and the form of a dot such as a ring as the basic signature.
From there on thousands of different patterns developed adding different motifs and colors.
Culturally this region has German heritage. It was firstly produced while this region was German and has reached massproduction during the times it is Polish; meaning the Boleslawiec ceramic is an European craft par excellance.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The collection POP App designed for the ceramic manufactory Manufaktura in Boleslawiec is a series of wallplates and vases using a new language of signs in the traditional stamping technique. Adding symbols to the palette derived from Pop culture and the internet the collection shows a fresh approach to this traditional craft. Vases and wall plates show unique designs on each object that can be used by piece, an edition of few or on a whole, as its concept and technique are interwoven.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: During first factory visit I experimented with pigments and stamps in search of a new ideas. From that three basic concepts were developed, where the client chose one from. In December I produced 18 prototypes, starting of with approx. 10 designs that I applied to the pottery from my drawings prepared and approx. 8 objects that I came up with during the process of making.
Few prototypes were hand drawn by painters from the workshop, such as the No-No plate. After finishing the prototypes a production manual was prepared so the workers could multiply the patterns.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The collection was designed between late summer 2018 and the realization of the prototypes end of 2018.
The production started beginning 2019 at the factory of Manufaktura w Boleslawcu.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Fine Arts and Art Installation Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: In contrast to the stamping work from Boleslawiec the size of stamps used here was bigger leaving a lot of free spaceon the surface. Due to this the tableware was primed with a white pigment leaving marks that underline the unique character of handmade work. Stamping the objects was as well used in this work, but in a rather off the grid, free arrangement. Leading to a more expressive technique of quick paint splash that allows a new way of creating handmade patterns in the workshops, before being glazed.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Wallplates: Diameter 280mm
Vases: Width 150mm x Depth 150mm x Height 400mm
TAGS: Ceramics, Pottery, Stoneware, Stamp, Cobalt, Vase, Wallplate, Boleslawiec, Craft, Tradition
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: The video below shows the classical work at the manufactory in Boleslawiec.
Its main character is applying pigmented stamps with motifs from the flora and fauna in a regular narrow grid.
Though ancient prototypes of Boleslawiec were covered with dot and ring motifs in Cobalt blue.
Taking this as a base for the collection and experimenting with abstract stamps from different spong fractures, magnification, adding new popular symbols like xoxo such as new techniques like a paint splash.
Aiming to underline the uniqueness of imperfection in handmade work, such as a new approach towards popular motifs.
CHALLENGE: The challenge to work on this project was to develop a new asthetic with symbols not yet used, experiment with techniques but still remain in the tradition of Boleslawiec craft.
A research challenge in the design process was the fact of the choice of color as certain pigments react differently than others and they all change after the process of glazing. Craftwise this was the hardest part for me but as well the most interesting one.
ADDED DATE: 2019-03-06 16:20:36
TEAM MEMBERS (1) :
IMAGE CREDITS: Radek Berent
PATENTS/COPYRIGHTS: Copyrights belong to Natalia Suwalski, 2019
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