Currently on display in the Lethaby Gallery, Craftsmanship Alone Is Not Enough captures BA Ceramic Design’s history and development over a hundred years at Central Saint Martins. With that in mind, and looking forward to the next century, we asked staff and students past about what they see for the future of ceramics.
“The hope that people will still design and make beautiful ceramics and use them in daily life. Explore and expand the material.”
(Maham Anjun, who graduated in 2013, is an award-winning potter, designer and researcher.)
“Lots of scope for public engagement that hopefully might alert the powers that be to the value for expanding more opportunities to work with clay.”
(Agalis Manessi, who graduated in 1976, is a ceramicist who draws inspiration from ceramic folk traditions.)
“The durability, the cleanliness, the coldness, the warmth, the beauty of ceramics guarantees its future benefits. Imagine a day without it.”
(Robin Levien, who graduated in 1973, is one of the country’s most successful product designer. His Rosenthal Thomas tableware has been a bestseller for over two decades.)
“I really hope that we will see more young people having the opportunity to work with clay at school, even though it’s hard to be hopeful of that at the moment. Which is why I also hope that we will continue to find ways to provide adult education opportunities to allow wider access to ceramics to anyone. On the cliff edge of Brexit, it seems that, we will all need to fight harder for those opportunities.”
(Sarah Christie, who graduated in 2016, is interested in giving voice through ceramics.)
“The democracy of the subject will become much more established with the development of the digital. Many people will be able to attempt to design in ceramics but if you know how to use the material, know its idiosyncrasies and histories, you will be very much in demand for your own designs but for others locally, nationally and internationally.”
(Kathryn Hearn’s practice reflects the Cambridgeshire Fens, with its liminal, rural but industrial landscape. She was Course Leader on BA Ceramic Design from 1989-2015.)
“Recognition.”
(James Evans, who graduated from CSM in 1987, creates biomorphic sculptures using ceramic and metallic materials.)
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- Sarah Christie – Library (detail) (2016)
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- Robin Levien – Jelly Mould Tea Set (1973)
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- Maham Anjum, Cinnamon Club range (2010)
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- James Evans – Sucette (2016)
Craftsmanship Alone Is Not Enough is in the Lethaby Gallery from January 17 to February 11. Follow @csmBACD and #CeramicCentury on Twitter to stay posted.
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