David Hibbs

In my work I seek collaboration between opposing elements within the thrown form, juxtaposing earth and fire, commercial and wild clays, intention and chance.

The intention comes from the use of readily available commercial clay and the control I have over the making process up to the moment that fire and smoke are introduced in the kiln. Whilst I have control over the throwing, trimming and burnishing of my thrown forms, thereafter chance dominates, yielding forms to trial and error through the introduction of wild clay terra sigillata to decorate the surface, and the thrill and jeopardy of the final smoke firing.

The wild clays I use are found by chance in my harvesting close to home, around the Vale of Glamorgan. By their nature wild clays are unstable and demand experimentation. Their local, iron-rich uniformity is overcome using smoke introducing exciting unpredictability to the burnished surface of my carefully thrown forms. The giving up of full control to the elements, the welcoming of chance and fortuity, allow the creation of unique objects that cannot be replicated from one to the next.