Inspiration gathered from the land
- Simon enjoys creating functional and sculptural ceramics
- He works with materials and inclusions foraged from his surroundings
- His five kilometre wide island home is his source of material and influence
Simon Kidd traded the excitement of the big city for the freedom of living in nature, leaving London for a small island off the coast of Ireland. "The plan was initially conceived as a five-month residency to challenge myself to work without equipment, away from the studio. I wanted to start my process from scratch and experience working outside,” he says. Going back to basics impacted Simon so profoundly that he is now settled in Cape Clear. His work speaks to the landscape in both form and material properties. Simon combines clays and inclusions from his environment, which build up complexity within his objects. "The gathering process keeps me connected to the place," he says, as he re-engages with a more studio-based practice in his new island home.
Interview
- Where did you study ceramics?
- I spent a year of my undergraduate studying fine art in Bristol, where I found ceramics and transferred across to study it in depth at Central Saint Martins in London. Prior to the transfer, I had mostly been working with found materials, so I was familiar with the gathering aspect of the craft. Ceramics allowed me to get immersed in a singular material.
- What is a key moment in your career?
- For one year after my graduation, I got a studio at Cockpit Studios, which was a game changer. It was a huge support having space and community. Bridging that gap between my studies and the real world was just what I needed at the time.
- With a network in London, why did you leave?
- I needed to push myself, to consider my processes and equipment, and ask myself: did I really need to do things this way or are there other routes? It was a period of freedom, moving away from the object and connecting purely with materials and processes.
- Why are functional works important to you?
- The two strands of my practice, the functional and the sculptural, are very different from each other. I have a huge appreciation for the craft of pottery, and producing tableware allows me to explore that. There is something very special about making work that people use in their daily lives.
Simon Kidd is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2016 and he started teaching in 2018
Where
Simon Kidd
