Lynn Frydman Kuhn

Ceramicist

Seams and folds in ceramic art

Lynn innovated her own porcelain casting technique using sewn sponge moulds
Irregularities and imperfections are infinite sources of energy and beauty to her
She teaches her new technique in her workshop Ceramuse

Lynn Frydman Kuhn describes her first encounter with clay a revelation and a call to explore the infinite possibilities of ceramics. In addition to teaching her craft at her ceramics workshop Ceramuse, Lynn also invented her very own technique in which she uses sewn sponge moulds. "I am able to take my art to new places by creating special pieces with my unique technique," she says. Lynn's work is all about experimenting and pushing boundaries, a quest to find new applications to her flexible moulds. She recalls introducing her innovative technique at the Hangzhou Art University in China, and feeling reaffirmed by the positive reactions of enthusiastic students. Through her art, Lynn provides further proof that this ancestral craft can always evolve to knew dimensions that are yet to be created.

Interview

How would you define your work?: My speciality is porcelain casting, which has taken on a new dimension with a technique I developed – creating flexible moulds from flat cellulose sponges, which I sew together to form unique structures. This technique gives me unprecedented freedom to create new shapes.
What inspires you?: I find inspiration in natural textures and random shapes. To me, irregularities and imperfections are infinite sources of energy and beauty. It is these small imperfections, these subtle fractures, that give each creation a story and a soul.
What do you find special about ceramics?: The infinite creative freedom it offers. Every new idea and every new experiment can open up an endless field of possibilities. There is always something new to discover and a new path to explore. Each soft sponge mould can only be used once, so each piece is truly unique.
Do you think your craft is in danger?: Yes, because there is a real threat to certain traditional techniques in a world where economic interests are in domination. But also no, because we are witnessing a spectacular revival. Contemporary ceramics is in the process of being recognised as an art form in its own right.

Lynn Frydman Kuhn is a master artisan: she began her career in 2005 and she started teaching in 2005