Antonia Salmon
The ceramic sculptures that you will see in this exhibition capture qualities from the natural world, predominantly through somatic listening. They are visual representations of the qualities of sound in wind, water, mosses and rocks as I walk in the moors and valleys of the Peak District
What do I mean by somatic listening? This is listening with the whole body, not only hearing with the ears. Somatic listening is a natural experience of sensing sound and vibration within the body. As I walk in a landscape I feel that I am moving over a giant vibrant sculpture; the body is breathing in the vibration, shapes and light of the land, the wind, rain and vegetation. What then follows is that sensing of sound is assimilated and naturally translated into visual structure, forms and textures.
The ability to perceive somatically is available to anyone by being in touch with silence within. Quiet the mind. Sound that arrives into our awareness has emerged itself from silence. Hence the title of this exhibition From Out of Silence is referring to both sources of silence – which are naturally connected. Forms that emerge from silence, capture essences that are perceived rather than articulated in the mind. This is why they will resonate gently and deeply - something is alluded to indirectly – it is a mystery.
Each work represents many months of hand building and careful honing. Many of the works are hand burnished over and again to impart a fine polished finish - they quite literally express the hand of the maker. There is a kind of ritual nature to the burnishing and also at the point when the sculptures are offered up to the smoke firing.