Tuesday, 16 January 2018

Claytime!

Image source : https://cdn.winsightmedia.com/platform/files/public/main/
articles/102012-dinnerware_0.jpg
I had talked about cozy spaces which call us back again and again, especially restaurants. Apart from the comfortable ambiance at such spaces one more element that catches my attention and asks for revisit is the tableware! I am sure same is the case with many of you. Isn’t the form of plates, bowls, salt pepper shakers is so exciting at some food places that you want to go there again just to slurp soup using that exotic spoon and bowl or to hold that gracious glass of your drink! 
Plates, bowls, pots, spoons …mundane objects that we use everyday but ceramic designers play with the form, colour, texture and pattern of these ordinary objects and turn them into jewels on the table. I feel these daily objects (art pieces) give us an opportunity to bring in art in our daily lives.
I remember sharing one trick with my friends to make their tiny tots drink more liquids by offering the drinks in different glass every time. The variety in shape of glass fascinated the engrossed child and wanting to hold it in hands effectively the child ended up consuming liquid inside the glass. I am trying to highlight power of design and aesthetics in our lives, age is no bar!
Though the object is serving a simple function of serving food or light enclosure, making it look charming is as important as the main function. Thus ceramic design and glass design is a perfect blend of functional and visual aspects in a product.
The word ceramic has origin in Greek word ‘Keramik’. Keram means potters clay. Thus ceramic is a term used for objects made out of clay.
Image source : https://cdn.homedit.com/wp-content/uploads/
2015/08/Arbel-Glass-lights-from-Luminaire-Lab.jpg
Clay being part of earth is a sustainable material and is in use since early ages. Clay utensils, jewellery found in archaeological excavations narrates us cultural attributes of those civilisations. Clay has been explored in different regions, cultures with different surface finishes leading to wide variety of products and styles available in ceramics. Glass is also made from natural resource silica, earth component. Clay and silica has enormous potential that led to a specialised branch of study, ceramic Design and glass design.
Designers make objects in clay using various techniques like hand building or wheel throwing and then fire it in kiln. During firing process use of different glazing material give different results. New digital technologies open door for new possibilities in surface finishing.  
Clay pots, kitchen utensils, planters are most noticed forms of ceramic design. But there are many other applications. Sculptures, indoor outdoor art installations in clay amuse us when we come across it in parks or art exhibitions, museums. While taking a stroll in home decor section of departmental stores like home centre, Good Earth hundreds of objects in ceramic and glass calls for our attention. The sanitary ware is part of ceramic design. Floor Tile is another ceramic product. Traditional hand crafted tiles are still in production in many parts of India. Ceramic is also used as industrial material because of its unique insulation properties. In fact it has wide application in building construction in roofing, tiling, ducting etc.
Image source : http://kidsout.ro/evenimente/atelier-de-ceramica-si-
modelaj-lut/
Glass with its transparency adds a different dimension to the objects. Lighting is the most evident usage of glass. But glass too has similar applications like ceramic in tableware, sculptures, art installations, home decor and industrial use.
Clay and Silica are earth materials and that is why I believe that we get connected with ceramic and glass objects so naturally than with any other material. I am sure as a child all of us have played with clay, explored our imagination to create our own fancies. Let’s give similar opportunity to our children too; to connect with earth, clay. Let them craft their imaginations in three dimensions. Let’s be earthy!

Some useful links 
https://www.corning.com/in/en/innovation/the-glass-age/design-and-application/glasslab-all-the-worlds-a-stage-for-designers-and-glassmakers.html

Note:
The writer has no rights on the images used in this article. 

2 comments:

  1. Ceramic designer... Came to know about it first time from you. Liked it very much...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great...its very true that these simple daily used objects designs play an important role.The trick of differently designed cups really make magic when your little one deny to listen.

    ReplyDelete

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