Working in clay, for me, is both a passion and a deeply theraputic process. Suffering from long term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after having served as a Paramedic in the Parachute regiment of the French Foreign Legion for six years. During this time I was to see seven tours of active duty in various combat zones.
This installation speaks of this experience, and my various skills both in ceramics and in suturing are used to narrate this. The process of Naked Raku is a brutal process where work drawn from high temperature is subjected to thermal shock and then heavily smoked. The delicate porcelain pieces gleaned from this process have taken on a bonelike feel. These “Pupoid” pieces are representational of human forms, male, female, adult adolescent and child. The red thread which intertwines within and without both connects and pierces each piece almost like bullet holes. Each of these interconnected objects have lustred gold “soul wells” of varying sizes and depths, some shine brightly whilst others may be more tarnished by hardships endured.
The construction of this installation in itself has been a healing process in which I have found a certain solace. One should never underestimate the cathartic values of a lump of clay and a piece of thread!
Johnathan English.
I mi mae gweithio gyda chlai, yn broses angerddol ac yn broses therapiwtig iawn. Dwi’n dioddef o Anhwylder Straen Ôl-drawmatig tymor hir ar ôl gwasanaethu fel Parafeddyg yng nghatrawd Parasiwt y Lleng Dramor Ffrengig am chwe blynedd. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn bûm yn gwasanaethu’n weithredol saith gwaith mewn gwahanol barthau lle’r oedd rhyfel.
Mae’r gosodiad hwn yn sôn am y profiad hwn, a dwi’n defnyddio fy sgiliau amrywiol mewn cerameg a phwytho i adrodd hyn. Mae proses Raku Noeth yn broses greulon lle mae gwaith yn cael ei dynnu o dymheredd uchel ac yn cael sioc thermol ac yna’n cael ei fygu’n drwm. Mae gan y darnau porslen cain a geir o’r broses hon deimlad tebyg i esgyrn. Mae’r darnau “chwileraidd” hyn yn cynrychioli ffurfiau dynol, dynion, benywod, oedolion ifanc a phlant. Mae’r edau goch sy’n cydblethu y tu mewn a’r tu allan yn cysylltu ac yn tyllu pob darn fel tyllau bwled bron iawn. Mae gan bob un o’r gwrthrychau cydgysylltiedig hyn “ffynhonnau enaid” aur o wahanol faint a dyfnder, mae rhai’n disgleirio’n llachar tra bod eraill wedi aflywio mwy yn sgil y caledi a ddioddefwyd ganddynt.
Mae adeiladu’r gosodiad hwn ynddo’i hun wedi bod yn broses iachau sydd wedi dod â rhyw fath o gysur i mi. Ni ddylai neb ddiystyru gwerthoedd cathartig lwmp o glai a darn o edau byth!
