Aster Cassel

Porcelain maker

©Emmanuelle Braun

©Crenow Design

©Aster Cassel

Dreamlike porcelain

Aster’s work is a combination of illustration and ceramics
Freedom to create is what she loves most about her work
Her workshop is part of a ceramicists' collective

Where illustration and sculpture meet, Aster Cassel’s creations immerse us in a dreamlike world. Through her unique porcelain pieces the young ceramicist presents an artistic interpretation of the evolution of living beings, “a mythology of the future that arises from hybrid species”, as she would describe it. Aster draws her narrative from her studies in visual communication, which were orientated towards illustration. As she felt the desire for greater artistic expression, she turned towards ceramics, obtaining a diploma in the subject. Myths, science fiction, imaginative books like Alice in Wonderland… Aster's fascination for the power of imagination is one of her endless sources of inspiration.

Interview

©Emmanuelle Braun

©Emmanuelle Braun

What was the first object you created?: I remember my first exhibition, called Utilitarian Mutations. I worked on the link that the craftsman has with the material and the mise en abyme of his actions. This drew the viewer's interest to the border between artist and craftsman.
Do you master specific techniques?: Porcelain is one of the most complex materials to master; I could not say that I master it entirely, but I try. Regarding techniques, I use a little bit of everything: stamping, turning, pigeonholes, modelling, brush painting, gold and platinum decoration...
What are your sources of inspiration?: Firstly, nature; it has a lot to teach us. I am also fascinated by the work of the researcher. Automation, robotics and other scientific processes lead me towards the discovery of new specimens that question the life of tomorrow. I imagine and represent the utopian mutations that could arise from this research.
When is a porcelain item well made?: It is the detail that you do not see, which will have taken me another whole day. It is the time I do not count anymore; it is the passion and dedication I invest into it.

Aster Cassel is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2014