Irene Nordli

Ceramicist

©Bono

Probing porcelain's endless possibilites

Irene's work reflects the world’s history, destruction and suffering
She specialises in porcelain clay
She is a professor in ceramic art at the National College of Art in Oslo

“I work as a way of thinking, creating and expressing myself.” A graduate of Bergen Academy of Art and Design, Irene Nordli’s creations represent her personal research in ceramic sculptures, probing the dimensions of the porcelain figurine and the vessel, which she models, builds, casts, tears apart and puts together in new ways. “I explore clay in all its forms. Liquid, plastic, moulded and modelled; wet and dry, soft and hard. I allow my hands to be wiser than my head, I allow my body to be involved in the decision-making process.” An exploration that has led to innumerable exhibitions and commissioned works, scholarships and awards.

Interview

When did your passion for ceramics begin?: I started to work with ceramics at school, but it was not until I was an adolescent that I started to take classes. My education was first in the fine arts. After the introductory years of fine art, I rediscovered ceramics and fell in love with clay. That is when I decided to specialise in that material.
What do you love about working with clay?: There is such freedom in clay. I felt like I could do everything I wanted with this material. I still think about ceramics that way, and I find that there is still so much to explore. I try to do what is impossible with the material, to see if it is possible. It’s endless.
In what way is your work linked to the world around you?: I often make my work starting from a raw material that belongs to us all, and cast figures that I find around us, to make my own versions of it. I try to refer to our porcelain history and to revitalise it with new work.
Has any moment in your career been particularly special to you?: I really enjoyed showing my work in the Henry van de Velde room at the Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum in Trondheim. I did my best to interact with and to disturb the controlled lines and well-behaved nature of Art Noveau.

Irene Nordli is a master artisan: she began her career in 1995 and she started teaching in 2010