Wholly Bowls

Ceramicist Nicola Harris is known for the tactile minimalist homeware that she distributes through luxury retailers including lim and Lunar.

Having dabbled in art history and interior design, Harris was eventually drawn back to ceramics for its abilities in product design - it can mimic metal, resin, chocolate, wood, plastic, soap and even paper.  Emphasising these textures and the form of the product, transparent glaze is used to bring out the natural colours of the earthenware and stoneware clays.
  
While continuing to make her exclusive range of homeware, Harris is now focusing on expanding her Perforated series, first seen at Design Indaba Expo 2007. Strangely, Harris's evenly punctured ceramic bowls were initially inspired many years ago by the holes in the VW Golf's foot pedals. This element of high technology and manufacture remains – ironic considering that the work is handmade.

"Something created by a technical mechanism – but it's not – makes you think there's a purpose for it – but there's not. My theory about the doughnut is that the space inside the doughnut is as important as the doughnut – once the doughnut is gone, the space is irrelevant. The hole is defined only by the dough – it's all about context. With my bowl: to all logic a bowl is something that you put something into, but I'm trying to take away as much as possible and yet it is still a bowl," Harris explains.
  
Harris is clearly excited about the new direction her work is taking, wanting to make bold, large-scale signature pieces and already buzzing with ideas for works to come. Besides Perforated, Harris is also starting to explore leather as an alternative medium and developing a range of ceramic clocks. Her studio shop in the East City is at the entrance to her studio, and one can find  a wide range of her ceramics and other products.

Website: www.nicolaharrisdesign.com

One lucky reader can win a work from Nicola Harris's Perforated series. To enter, send your contact details to dimagazine@interactiveafrica.com by 30 October 2007.