Shiver, 2019, Davka Studio

What

Porcelain; slip casting, wheel thrown, underglazed

Who

Gili Ilan, b. 1988; Nadav Rauchwerger, b. 1989

Why

This work consists of a series of biconical porcelain vessels with sharp contours, painted in shades of blue, which are displayed in a row to create a gradient color scheme moving from dark to light. Their bodies feature an orderly pattern of incisions made with the “chattering” technique, which “injures” the vessels’ walls with a sharp tool or a roulette, while utilizing the rotational movement of the potter’s wheel.

The compatibility between form and surface blurs the boundaries between man and machine; between unique, conceptual and artistic products and industrial, functional ones; and between sudden, passionate actions and the endlessly meticulous practice of crafting objects.

“When the works are observed, they seem to merely represent the exploration of a technique, yet the nearly mechanical coloring and ornamentation have equal weight. Additionally, the ornamentation technique raises questions concerning the production process: did it involve digital media or a 3-D printer? A mechanically operated tool? Manual or automatic?

“By preserving this tension, the work brings together contemporary design, experimentation and tradition, so that viewers encounter something familiar with a new twist.”

Where

On display at the Man and His Work Pavilion, Tel Aviv Biennale of Crafts & Design, MUZA – Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv.