Doris Becker

Ceramicist

©Luc Ewen

©Doris Becker

Exploring the mystery of nature

Doris enjoys using clay to build structures
Her work investigates contradictions in nature
She creates texture using wooden sticks or needle pricks

Doris Becker's intense period of training began in high-ranking art schools and academies and then continued in specialised workshops and symposia in Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany. Ever since, Doris has dedicated her life to the exploration of clay as a medium of artistic expression. “My artistic work and the creation of my ceramic sculptures are inspired by observation and research on the manifold expressions of nature, especially mineral textures of the earth,” she says. “I’m especially interested in the ever-present contrasts in nature arising from the contradiction between construction and demolition, between formation and deformation, between structuring, de-structuring and even destruction.”

Interview

Why did you choose clay as your material of choice?: I was educated at both art and crafts schools, and gained extensive experience working with many different sculptural materials, such as wood and stone. But each time I kept returning to clay.
What is so special about clay?: I always kept coming back to clay because I found it is 'my' material. I can build, construct and add layers, which is a completely different approach to working with wood or stone, where you normally remove it by carving or engraving.
What makes your work special and unique?: My work is handmade and always features textures and patterns, mostly created by piercing the clay thousands of times with tiny wooden sticks or needle pricks. This personal and special technique is very contemplative, and it takes weeks to realise a finished artwork.
Why is nature your primary source of inspiration?: I am fascinated by the mystery of the macroscopic and microscopic aspects of nature, with its interminable and contrasting variations, forms and structures. I try to make my sculptures reflect these omnipresent secrets in nature and in life in general.

Doris Becker is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2006