48 Days Later

About

This exhibition showcases Alex Shimwell's latest ceramic creations. Alex creates wheel thrown, functional and decorative ware at his studio in Youlgreave, Derbyshire. Alex originally studied ceramic design at Staffordshire University, and has since travelled to Japan, spending time with Hiroki Numaguchi, a 7th generation Jomo ware potter, learning traditional techniques and researching the aesthetic ideas that informed traditional British studio ceramics. Alex also worked under the guidance of master potter Kevin Millward learning traditional, industrial throwing techniques.

Speaking about the exhibition collection, Alex says "Different clays glazes and firing styles impart different things to a pot, like aspects of a personality. Ideas often come from observing this and then as a form or technique is experimented with different bodies and glazes are used to see which fits how this affects the final piece. Simply changing one of these aspects can have a marked effect on the final piece. Pots are often personified, seen with masculine or feminine attributes, not just due to the form but the firing and clay body contribute to the personality felt in a piece, letting go of control and accepting failure to allow for serendipity, pots are the culmination of this dialogue they work best when this is harmonious and no one aspect is relied upon too heavily or given too much control."