Emmanuel Boos

Ceramicist

©Gérard Jonca

©Sophie Zénon

Ceramics in a new dimension

Emmanuel was born in St Etienne in France
He now lives and works in Paris and Mannheim
He was an apprentice to French master Jean Girel

Emmanuel Boos cannot be defined by labels. A combination of artist, artisan and writer, he is unique in the world of ceramics. He discovered his craft at the age of 14, however, following the wishes of his parents, he pursued academic studies instead, while continuing to work in a pottery studio at the same time. After his studies he went to Korea and China to discover Asian porcelain, an experience that led him to spend a year back home focusing solely on ceramics. This became a year of reflection which brought new opportunities, and he has been working as a ceramicist ever since. He started to exhibit his work in 2002, and a year later had his first individual show, which caught the attention of galleries in Paris, Holland, Germany and the US.

Interview

©Zenon-Boos

How has your research influenced your work?: I try to make sure that theory does not dictate my work. However, I have been able to discover another dimension of my work – the poetic side. I am conscious that theory should not be the starting point for creating. My practice is not just an idea, it is first and foremost a process.
How have your travels to Asia inspired you?: I am very sensitive to ceramics from Japan, Korea and China. I don't try to emulate their style but rather I try to find a language that is more contemporary. During my PhD I also discovered Danish ceramics, their artistic mastery and ability to combine the work of artist and artisan.
Why do you use recurring geometric forms?: I’m inspired by the simplicity of the initial form of the material, much like the work of Russian Suprematism and the American minimalists before me. I aim to focus on the surface, and these forms absent themselves to expose the glaze.
How do you use glaze in your work?: Glaze is forever changing; we can change the ingredients, or the furnace, or the time of day. I experiment with multiple variables, and what starts as practice becomes the final heart of my artistic work. I try to go further to create compositions, an aesthetic equilibrium that is always unknown.

Emmanuel Boos is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2003