The Parade of Objects: Rethinking Twentieth Century Ceramics
On craft
For the 2002 Peter Dormer Lecture, Edmund de Waal critically examines the evolution of ceramics in the 20th century. He explores how ceramics transitioned from traditional craft to contemporary art, highlighting key shifts in materiality, production methods, and conceptual frameworks that redefined the discipline.
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Saying More With Less
1024px Thrown teapot by Geoffrey Whiting YORYM 2004 1 2473
In this essay, Edmund de Waal reflects on his apprenticeship with Geoffrey Whiting, emphasising the value of restraint and simplicity in ceramics. He describes Whiting’s minimalist lifestyle and teaching approach, highlighting how this ethos influenced de Waal's own understanding of making and meaning in pottery.
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On Lucie Rie
1024px Four cups and saucers by Lucie Rie National Museum Cardiff 01
This essay, written for the catalogue to accompany the exhibition of Lucie Rie's work at Kettle's Yard in 2023 highlights the Rie's simplicity and modernist approach. De Waal reflects on her journey from Vienna to London and her lasting impact on contemporary ceramics through her refined, purposeful forms.
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