Fréderique Vanvlasselaer

Porcelain maker

©Frederic VanHecke

Elevating everyday life

Fréderique pursues the ‘art of imperfection’
She loves porcelain’s translucency
Her work radiates stillness

Fréderique Vanvlasselaer makes contemporary creations in porcelain, driven by the many creative opportunities this material offers. “What fascinates me in particular is the way it absorbs light and brings out different light colours,” she explains. “I want my work to radiate stillness. When I look at it, it gives me a feeling of no longer being hurried by time, to the extent that I lose any notion of time.” Fréderique is positively challenged by the apparent contradictions of light and shadow, form and deformation. They make her pursue what she calls the art of imperfection. “The starting point of this process is set in a world full of opposites that are pitted against each other until they are perfectly balanced. Embracing imperfection creates perfection.”

Interview

©Frederic VanHecke

©Frederic VanHecke

What are your sources of inspiration?: I derive much inspiration from the natural processes that textures go through. For example the effects of decay which cause old layers of paint to peel off, cracks to appear in a wall or pieces of wood to rot.
What do you love most about your profession?: Porcelain truly touches me, because of its endless possibilities. I love the pure earthen product and its infinite honesty. When you create with it, you develop a dialogue in which you are equal parties. It challenges me to engage with each moment.
Is there something people do not know about your work?: How much time it takes to finish a single object. Porcelain requires a drying period of several weeks. Each item is fired three times and the cooling in my kiln takes three days. And these are just a few of the steps in the long creation process.
What was a moment in your professional life that you will never forget?: I will always remember the reaction of the relatives of a deceased person when I showed them the urn I made for their loved one. They were so grateful and moved by it, that I shed a tear with them.

Fréderique Vanvlasselaer is a rising star: she began her career in 2017