organic, non-functional ceramics

ORGANIC, NON-FUNCTIONAL CERAMICSCeramics II

February 2010

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS

Organic- forms that are flowing and curvilinear, like those found in nature.

Non-Functional- an object with no discernable function, most often strictly aesthetic

Non-Representational- not representing any object, figure or entity recognizable from life

Abstraction- purposefully stressing the essential rather than the particular, a set of aesthetically significant forms that’s do not correspond to those in the visible world

ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES

Project cannot be conceived as a representational object

It should instead focus on compositional and artistic principles to create a aesthetically pleasing form

ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES

Line Shape/form Color Space Texture Pattern

Variety Repetition Emphasis Balance Symmetry or

asymmetry

YAGI KAZUO

(1918-1979), Japanese ceramicist “formulated a style using sculptural forms

that disregarded utilitarian considerations. This style directly influenced contemporary artistic thought and had a great impact on Japanese avant-garde ceramics”

YAGI KAZUO

Mr. Samsa. 1954 A Cloud Remembered. 1977

TOSHIKO TAKAEZU

(1922), Female American Ceramicist of Japanese decent

Works in 20th century Japanese style inspired by Kazuo

Focuses on the aesthetic qualities of ceramics instead of the function

Can be seen at Cleveland Museum of Art

TOSHIKO TAKAEZU

GEORGIA O’KEEFE

(1887-1986), American Painter Sought inspiration from natural forms Organic abstractions often vaguely

recognizable as flowers

GEORGIA O’KEEFE

Red Canna. 1923

Light Iris. 1924

CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI

(1876-1957) Romanian sculptor Sought to simplify forms to essential

elements

CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI

Bird in Space. 1928

Maiastra. 1911

ISAMU NOGUCHI

(1904-1988) American sculptor with Japanese influence

Utilized a variety of media to create organic, biomorphic forms.

ISAMU NOGUCHI

Remembrance. 1944

Globular. 1928

HENRI MOORE

(1898-1986) English sculptor Utilizes a variety of media (bronze, stone,

wood, etc) to create biomorphic (organic) forms

Teetering between surrealism and abstraction, his work combines elements of English Romantic tradition and primitive cultures with an emphasis on objects that seem “shaped by time” and possess “special significance for human experience”

HENRI MOORE

Reclining Figure, 1946

Nuclear Energy. 1967

MARTIN PURYEAR

(1941) African American sculptor Interested in biomorphic abstraction and

surrealist themes Work reflects his culturally diverse life and is

laden with deep symbolic content

MARTIN PURYEAR

Plenty’s Boast. 1994-1995 Sphere