About

Properly fired ceramic has the potential to last forever, acting as a physical replacement for us after we pass. Unfired clay holds the potential to be recycled to a workable state. I explore how these inherent properties form connections between ceramics, as a contemporary art medium, and the human experience.

Multiple experiences have taught me that life is fragile; I question how my practice can allow others to consider this through a ceramic object or installation. In What Remains: Ash, a combination of fired and unfired slipcast vessels are compressed on-site to create a pedestal structure capable of protecting an urn. Traces of my grandfather’s ashes are contained within this vessel. The temporal reality of the body is directly compared to the surrounding material. Remnants of clay are collected and recast into new objects.

Humans live by repetitive processes; slipcasting relates directly to the monotony of everyday life. By compressing material and vessels into new objects, I enable the mold to craft a uniquely individual object. Utilizing slip’s thixotropic nature allows me to give new life to a vessel that otherwise would be considered complete.

I strive to create objects that will be remembered by giving consideration to what will stand in my place once I pass. Most recently, Memorial Structures are a series of human-height monuments capable of simultaneously lasting forever and conveying a sense of impermanence. Ultimately, my practice allows others to consider their personal beliefs in relation to ceramic history, tradition, and process.

-Ben Harle, 2020