Florence Corbi

Ceramicist

©Marion Saupin

A seabed of porcelain

Florence's poetic sculptures rise from her imagination
Ancient literature is one of her sources of inspiration
She takes part in many national and international exhibitions

"I sculpt porcelain, I create, I give life to my imagination". With the help of a few basic tools and by mastering delicate gestures, Florence Corbi sculpts clay into porcelain pieces, which seem to stem from an otherworldly nature. Inspired by plants and the seabed, she lets her overflowing inspiration speak in each of her creations, revealing with finesse the sensitivity of her material. Florence works using the modelling technique, which she is constantly refining and experimenting with. The dominant bright white of her porcelain subtly interacts with touches of colours and the addition of other materials. It was in 2011, after a career in another field, that Florence discovered ceramics and became instantly fascinated. In 2013, she took part in her first solo exhibition.

Interview

©Marion Saupin

©Marion Saupin

Do you remember when you first thought of taking up this craft?: It was when I touched the material in an introductory pottery class. It immediately became an obsession: within 15 days I had found a professional training course and by the following year I had set up my own workshop.
How are tradition and innovation reflected in your work?: The tradition in my work lies in the material and the rediscovery of certain modelling gestures. The innovation is expressed through my use of 'external' materials such as fabrics or thread, that come into dialogue with clay, as creative acolytes.
How does your work relate to heritage?: With porcelain, I work with an ancestral material that the Chinese developed centuries ago. I work with it in paste form and add to it a profusion of finely detailed sculptures that are in the tradition of French biscuit porcelain sculptures.
Is there anything about your making process that people are not usually aware of?: I have only very few tools (three or four) and they are very simple: a needle point, a modelling tool, the old blade that my master turner gave to his students and to which I am very attached, and finally, a kitchen knife.

Florence Corbi is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2011