ceramics & porcelain
Printing with Ceramics
While 3D printing has been around for some
time, but a design studio called ‘UNFOLD LAB’
(www.unfold.be) have recently developed a 3D
printer that prints with ceramic material.
The results which are relatively early proto-
types contrast in a very interesting way with
what we might usually understand properites
that finished ceramic objects have. The lines
of construction can be clearly seen, which I
really like.
The machine uses powder clay which is mixed
with water and printed out using a syringe.
To test their design unfold wanted to print a
ceramic vessel which would be difficult us-
ing traditional techniques, so they drafted a
double walled vessel with fins connecting the
two walls. The result was successful and they
fired the vessel along with a number of other
testing pieces that demonstrate the printers
effectiveness.
http://www.unfold.be
Ceramic Brakes
Ceramic is used in car’s brake and it is fairly
new. It is often used in performance vehicles
and high-end sports cars which require more
stopping power. Ceramic brake has more stop-
ping ability, creates less wastage, stronger in
overheat and overuse, and it last longer, com-
pare to old semi metal brakes. Although, the
price still matters and it will take some time
to see this in ordinary cars.
*Interesting thing is that it glows red when
it is heated and still does not lose too much
stopping ability and when it is used a lot it
catches fire.
Stillness
in the Glorious Wilderness
This is a piece from a installation of eight
ceramic sculptures by Danish ceramicist Ma-
rie Torbensdatter Hermann The installation is
called Stillness in the Glorious Wildnerness.
“Hermann’s precise forms in rhythmic arrange-
ments that engage the our experience with
an object’s form and its perceived function.”+
matin-gallery.com
I chose this image because its essence is very
attractive. My mind is soothed by it. At first
glance it looks like a still image of strawber-
ry milk caught just as it explodes in the air.
This is not the case though. The material is
quite hard as it is a ceramic sculpture. It is
amazing what can be made out of a material if
you discard its attributes and look at it in a
different way.
GSG Ceramic Design
GSG is a company specialized in the produc-
tion of ceramic sanitaryware, and is to be
found in the ceramic district of Civita Castel-
lana. The gsg company has a long experiance
in the foreign market with classic design, and
now, a careful awareness of todays designs
and styles, enlarging the gamma of products
to combine a new way of living and concept of
architectural bathrooms.
http://www.ceramicagsg.com/
This is one of Toshiko Takaezu’s moon pots. While I recognize that her method was not altogether revolu-tionary (though she did dry her pots in hammocks), to me, the spirit of her work transcends the material. Because of it’s �exibility, ceramic can successfully evoke a kind of mood that I �nd is less frequently evoked by objects made with other materials. So, all in all, I suppose that I chose this ‘pot’ (moon pots are actually closed on top) because I have been obsessed with Takaezu’s work for years and because I �nd it incredibly compelling, though I am not sure why.
Elizabeth ParkerApril 4, 2011
Toshiko Takaezu
This is one of Toshiko Takaezu’s moon pots.
While I recognize that her method was not
altogether revolutionary (though she did dry
her pots in hammocks), to me, the spirit of her
work transcends the material.
Because of it’s exibility, ceramic can success-
fully evoke a kind of mood that I nd is less
frequently evoked by objects made with other
materials. So, all in all, I suppose that I chose
this ‘pot’ (moon pots are actually closed on
top) because I have been obsessed with Taka-
ezu’s work for years and because I find it
incredibly compelling, though I am not sure
why.
Nendo - Ceramic Audio Speaker
The collaboration between Nendo design stu-
dio and potter Mitsuke Masayasu created a
high-end audio speaker made of razor thin
slices of ceramic. These slices are fixed with
mercury vapor and assembled by a robotic arm
creating a circuit board aesthetic.
Aldo Bakker - Odd Cup-lings
These are all bits and pieces from the porce-
lain tableware set designed by Aldo Bakker.
Each has a unique shape according to what
each dish is used for and how the hand holds
it. Nice handiwork and highlights the simple
sleekness of porcelain.
Natucer Tiles
Called Lifearq, the deceptive bamboo-shaped
pieces are actually made of extruded porce-
lain tile and can be used to create unique
room dividers or stand-alone shade screens.
Made by Natucer company.
Porcelain Tape
“KERAFLEX porcelain tape is a thin, flexible
tape, based on ceramic raw materials and an
organic binding matrix. Due to the high flex-
ibility of the tape, completely new possibili-
ties in the porcelain processing arise:
Stamp, shape, cut, fold, bend and laminate the
tape and give your design a new creativity.
Forget traditional casting processes and dis-
cover the uncomplicated shaping with KERAF-
LEX.”
http://www.kerafol.com/en/porcelain-tape/
products.html
Ceramic Cooling Screen
material research Studio Kahn’s Ceramic Cool-
ing Screen. I love how this product is flex-
ible, elegant, while serving a very necessary
purpose of cooling an interior. This screen
contains a water pocket that uses seepage and
evaporation to perform its cooling duties.
http://www.interiordesign.net/blog/De-
sign_Green/41529-Gorgeous_Ceramic_Cooling_
Screen_by_StudioKahn.php?intref=sr