The Hand and the Glove: Actual and Virtual Explorations of the Ceramic Container.

The hand's action defines the cavity of space and the fullness of the objects which occupy it. Surface, volume, density, and weight are not optical phenomena. Man first learned about them between his fingers and in the palm of his hand.

The project brings together the virtual and the actual, being both a tool and a metaphor for the exploration of the physical presence and the perceived experience of the containing object.

Over time, working with clay, repetition throwing and the making of functional pots develop a finely tuned sensibility. A tacit knowledge is gained where touch is as important as sight in the subtle investigation of form. The energy of a curve and the softness of a rim can be both seen and felt.

The result of the making process is often more than a simple object, it can have semiotic meaning, and its presence can extend beyond its physical form. The space around the object is inhabited and shared with the viewer. The relationship is real, yet it is based on the seen and the unseen, the known and the not known. The object is not alone, its physical presence is accompanied by implied or explicit significance.

The ceramic container is a familiar, everyday object, primarily designed and made to be used. Yet, within the form there is a paradox. When used, it is an object containing another object, when empty it contains a void.
The investigation of the ceramic container will explore the relationship of the virtual and the actual using primary geometric forms and mathematical models as vehicles.

A range of techniques will be employed to undertake the project. Hand making will be used alongside an exploration of digital technology. Crafting a computer-generated object shares some of the same manipulative skills. This research allows the opportunity to explore the relationship between the handmade and the digital.

The practical outcome of the project will be a body of ceramic works. The written report will document the practical work, analysing its development and comparing the efficacy and haptic qualities of the tools and techniques used.

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