Angela Ratten is a ceramic artist living in Bermagui on the Sapphire Coast of NSW.
Discovering my own visual language is a wonderful journey. The alchemy of clay fascinates me, particularly porcelain and its varying depth of translucency. I am drawn to the process of the making, the feeling of a spiritual connection with the clay and the subsequent transformation from a malleable substance to a beautiful vitrified object.
The organic shaped vessels begin as wheel thrown symmetrical cylinders, next I carefully manipulate the soft clay, it’s as though I’m giving life to the form as I caress and coerce the clay to develop into a new personality, its own unique character, I encourage the clay shape to within a fraction of collapse, working on forming folds and curves to create an overall texture and visual intrigue.
Wheel throwing is intrinsic to my practice, its ritualistic, it compels me to be focused, balanced and grounded, it helps connect me to a sense of self in a world that is constantly changing. I am aware of working with metaphorically powerful elements, Earth, Air, Water and Fire to vitrify my creations.
