Tamsin van Essen

Ceramicist

©Jacqueline Bilton

©Vladimir Jedlicka

©Jay Dacey

Finding beauty in imperfection

Tamsin is fascinated by the scientific and medical world
She pushes the boundaries of what can be achieved with clay
Her work is inspired by the impermanence of material existence

Always a keen artist, when Tamsin van Essen left school she had to decide between art college or an academic degree – and chose the latter, studying physics and philosophy at Oxford University. That led to six years in science publishing, before she decided she would rather be working with her hands than sitting in front of a computer. A degree in ceramic design at Central Saint Martins and MA at the Royal College of Art followed, but her earlier academic interests continue to inform her work. Often inspired by the scientific and medical world, she works conceptually, exploring the fine line between beauty and imperfection, attraction and repulsion. Her Medical Heirlooms series, based on common inherited diseases, aims to make us think about our emotional response to objects.

Interview

©Vladimir Jedlicka

How does philosophy shape your work?: The conceptual side of my work is very important to me. Perhaps studying philosophy has made me think more about reading around the subject of what I am planning to make, to give it more depth. I hope to spark discussions through the objects I create, as well as them being visually compelling.
Why do you focus on themes of disease and decay?: I find the process of decay fascinating. For me, the most interesting but heart-breaking moment is when something is just at the point of disintegrating. In my research, I was working with microscopic images of bacteria and viruses, and realised they are actually quite beautiful despite being deadly. That led me to think about our complicated relationship with beauty, and how imperfection can be both interesting and beautiful.
How do you combine tradition and innovation?: I use slip casting, carving and some traditional decorative techniques that are very old, but I use them in unusual ways to say something new. Similarly, I often draw on historic ceramic forms, but present them in new contexts to communicate contemporary themes. In my studio, I am constantly experimenting with the ceramic materials to develop new processes and explore the limits of what can be achieved with clay.
What do you love about ceramics?: So many unexpected things can happen in ceramics! I like to push the boundaries of the material, and there are many variables, so a piece may come out very differently than I had imagined. That is what keeps me going – the challenge of making something that comes out in a new, interesting way.

Tamsin van Essen is a master artisan: she began her career in 2007 and she started teaching in 2013