Surprises beyond functionality
- Jo creates fine porcelain on the potter's wheel
- She is an MA graduate of the Royal College of Art in London
- Simple forms and surprising touches guide her designs
Jo Davies is a well-known ceramicist in East London who specialises in wheel-thrown porcelain. In her studio she designs and handmakes a range of fine porcelain vases, vessels, lighting and one-of-a-kind objects. Thanks to a personal, refined approach to pottery and to her profound mastering of the making process, she gained wide recognition as a ceramicist able to express a delicate balance between softness and rigidity, smoothness and weight. Her porcelain works are exhibited in the UK and abroad, and she has worked with several institutions, including the National Portrait Gallery, Somerset House and the National Trust. Organic to Jo's practice is teaching, and she holds a variety of classes at her studio for students interested in the art of wheel-throwing.
Interview
- Where does your inspiration come from?
- I was influenced by the ceramics department of the V&A Museum in London during my studies, but today inspiration can arrive at any time. I get fascinated by the shapes around me and their relation with the curves of the body.
- What does your keyword 'simplicity' mean to you?
- For me simplicity indicates that I like to find shapes with very clean lines and forms, conceived to adapt to the human body and to the function of the object.
- How is the concept of surprise reflected in your work ?
- Ergonomics and functionality are essential, but I interpret these in an uncommon way, in order to introduce an element of surprise, such as a special handle on a cup that enhances the experience of tactility for the user.
- What lies at the very core of your work?
- The process with the wheel. Pottery is always a reflection of the hands, of their shape and gestures. This is something that I love to teach in the classes held at my studio, along with other skills of mine, so they are not lost.
Jo Davies is a master artisan: she began her career in 2003 and she started teaching in 2004
Where
Jo Davies
