Thierry Damant
La matière des songes
Ceramicist
Saint-Martin-le-Vieux, France
Tactile connections to clay
- Thierry’s approach to porcelain is rooted in sensory perception
- Three of his creations were acquired by French national collections in 2023
- He values simplicity and aims to create with purpose
Although Thierry Damant first encountered ceramics as a child, visiting studios with his parents, it was his fascination with teaware from East Asia that deepened his connection to the craft. Holding these objects in his hands and sensing the gestures that had shaped them was a defining experience. "Ceramics are a way of being in the presence of clay, and an intimate form of knowledge," he says. Thierry approaches clay as an extraordinary material, engaging in a sensory dialogue with it. Rather than simply producing objects, he seeks to create meaning. His work explores the qualities of porcelain such as translucency, whiteness and lightness, while revealing the expressive potential of glazes as both colour and matter.
Discover his work
INTERVIEW
I trained in Eutony, a body-awareness practice that I later taught in Switzerland. It opened up a world of sensory perception, particularly through touch, and continues to shape my approach to ceramics. I later studied wheel throwing in Burgundy and studied traditional glazes. My ceramic practice is largely self-taught, shaped by work in the Limoges region and travels in Japan.
For me, creating objects in a world already overflowing with them must be justified. I reflected deeply on what my first ceramic gesture should be. In 2019, I created a bowl that I named Symbol Infinity. This bowl has been part of the French national collections since 2023.
I draw inspiration from nature, clouds in particular, and from the ephemeral. I am also inspired by sculpture, and I greatly admire sculptor Constantin Brancusi. In my ceramics, I have always carried the memory of the Jomon tradition with me.
I love moments of silence, and the gradual encounter with new ceramic forms. I enjoy the journey between the initial idea and the finished object.
Thierry Damant
La matière des songes
Ceramicist
Saint-Martin-le-Vieux, France
ADDRESS
Address upon request, Saint-Martin-le-Vieux, France
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
LANGUAGES
French, German, English
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