This body of work explores the combination of ceramics and willow in order to create functional wall mounted plant pots with an inbuilt trellis. The ceramic element houses a climbing plant such as Ivy while the willow, weaved in a traditional basket pattern creates the trellis for the plant to grow around. The surface of the ceramic pots is also designed in such a way as to encourage moss growth. The weaved element shelters the moss from direct sunlight and small holes hidden in the surface texture allow for drainage and moisture for the moss.
Sustainability has been at the heart of this project and every element has been made with that at the forefront of the design process. The willow was grown locally using traditional methods and will be finished in a non-toxic preservative, free of volatile organic compounds that are highly damaging to the environment. The ceramic was only fired once, in a high temperature vitrify firing. Ceramics are usually fired twice and this reduction resulted in less pollution. High temperature firing also allowed the ceramic to become vitrified, meaning it is no longer porous and therefore highly durable and able to live outside in the harsh UK winter conditions.
My hope is that as the plants intertwine with the trellis and the moss grows, with time they become more beautiful, creating living sculptures. In essence these pieces are made to be loved and to last.
Mae’r corff hwn o waith yn ymchwilio i’r cyfuniad o seramig a helyg er mwyn creu potiau planhigion swyddogaethol i’w gosod ar waliau gyda delltwaith ynghlwm wrthynt. Mae’r elfen seramig yn gartref i blanhigyn dringo fel iorwg tra bod yr helyg, wedi’i gwehyddu mewn patrwm basged traddodiadol yn creu’r delltwaith i’r planhigyn dyfu o’i gwmpas. Mae arwyneb y potiau seramig hefyd wedi’i ddylunio mewn modd sy’n annog mwsogl i dyfu. Mae’r elfen wehyddu’n cysgodi’r mwsogl rhag golau haul uniongyrchol ac mae tyllau bach sydd wedi’u cuddio yng ngwead ar arwyneb yn caniatáu draenio a lleithder ar gyfer y mwsogl.
Mae cynaladwyedd wedi bod wrth wraidd y prosiect hwn ac mae pob elfen wedi’i gwneud gyda hynny fel elfen bennaf o’r broses ddylunio. Cafodd yr helyg ei dyfu’n lleol gan ddefnyddio dulliau traddodiadol a bydd yn cael ei orffen mewn cadwolyn diwenwyn, yn rhydd rhag cyfansoddion organig anweddol sy’n dra niweidiol i’r amgylchedd. Dim ond unwaith y taniwyd y seramig, mewn tân gwydreiddio tymheredd uchel. Fel arfer, caiff seramig ei danio ddwywaith, ac arweiniodd y gostyngiad hwn at lai o lygredd. Roedd tanio tymheredd uchel hefyd yn caniatáu i’r seramig gael ei wydreiddio, sy’n golygu nad yw bellach yn fandyllog ac felly’n hynod o gadarn ac yn gallu bodoli y tu allan i amodau gaeaf garw y DU.
Fy ngobaith yw, wrth i’r planhigion gydblethu â’r delltwaith a’r mwsogl dyfu, gydag amser maent yn mynd yn fwyfwy prydferth, gan greu cerfluniau byw. Yn ei hanfod, mae’r darnau hyn yn cael eu gwneud i gael eu caru ac i barhau.
