Laurin Schaub

Ceramicist

©Lukas Lienhard

©Raffael Waldner

©Chris Daeppen

©Baptiste Coulon

Ceramics for modern times

Porcelain is Laurin’s favourite material
He explores tableware through unconventional designs
In 2018 he was a winner of the Swiss Design Awards

When Laurin Schaub first came across ceramics, he immediately understood that it was what he wanted to do in life. After training in the workshop of a master, he graduated in Ceramic Design at the Schule für Gestaltung Bern und Biel and at the Haute école d'art et de design (HEAD) in Geneva. Since opening his studio in Bern, he has engaged in creating functional porcelain objects with a deconstructed perspective. "I don’t follow a particular style," he explains. "Rather, I keep asking myself what pottery can be today. I am always looking for new techniques and I am often inspired by non-ceramic sectors. On the one hand, I use digital tools and advanced technologies to develop new techniques and design languages; and on the other hand, I am committed to classic pottery and pure craftsmanship." This leads to products and objects with a wide range of functions and complexities.

Interview

©Raffael Waldner

©Lukas Lienhard

What intrigues you about ceramics?: I think it is the mixture of many things, involving all my senses. I can work with my hands and intuition, and at the same time I can develop my creativity conceptually, and apply digital technologies.
How important is tradition in your work?: It is very important, both in terms of skills and know-how and of my emotional connection to the craft. Just like a traditional craftsman, I follow all aspects of production on my own, from the concept to the execution.
What do you love most about your craft?: I love engaging my senses in my work, to touch the material and keep the connection to the original concept. And the most exciting part is to experience how my ideas materialise through my hands, which sometimes comes as a surprise also to myself.
What does it take to stand out in the world of ceramics?: First of all, you need the skill: if you have a lot of experience, and can improvise, it is always visible in your work. The other part is to follow your own interests and have something to say, to enrich the whole conversation.

Laurin Schaub is a master artisan: he began his career in 2008 and he started teaching in 2012