pedro lobo's 'kinky ceramics' challenge ideas of tradition & BDSM

pedro lobo infuses erotic artifacts onto ceramic vases

Pedro Lobo challenges notions of taboo and tradition with his erotic sculptural series ‘Kinky Ceramics’. Disrupting conservative mindsets and deconstructing society’s aversion to fetish culture, the project comprises traditional ceramic pieces infused with kinky BDSM artifacts, revealing various abstracted deformations as if they were body parts.

The collection is divided into three parts. With ‘Rope Play’, twists and turns of rope are applied over the pots to recreate the typical patterns of shibari art, forming voluptuous skin-like ceramic forms. Taking a more subtle approach, ‘Impact Play’ reveals vague demarcation of ceramics through the impact of slap objects. Meanwhile ‘Gag Play’ takes shape as smooth pots dressed in gag balls and leather gear.

‘Rope Play’ | all images courtesy Pedro Lobo

deconstructing barriers around BDSM

Pedro Lobo applies the ideology of conscious design duo Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby who employ critical design as a medium to stimulate discussion about social, cultural and ethical topics. The pieces of ‘Kinky Ceramics’, while sculptural and decorative in nature, derive from an aim to subvert the commercial nature of industrial design and challenge societal ideas on ‘tradition’ and BDSM.

The designer celebrates the erotic world of BDSM and seeks to break down any societal barriers of taboo that may surround it. Looking to its various practices of bondage, discipline, and sadomasochism, Lobo incorporates its props and accessories materials to dress his ceramic sculptures.

The associated materials of metal, glass, leather and cotton, which became sexualized during the late 80s/90s when the practice of BDSM gained visibility by the LGBTQIA+ community, are now celebrated as something exciting and erotic. Despite being common in modern society, these themes are often still a taboo and shrouded in feelings of shame and secrecy. ‘Whenever there is a change at the social level, it tends to be rejected with the argument that ‘it wasn’t like this in the old days’ and ‘it’s tradition’. It was this same narrative that made me rethink tradition, not as an obstacle, but as a vehicle,’ explains Pedro Lobo.

‘Gag Play’ incorporates gag balls and leather gear

With tradition being a central part of ‘Kinky Ceramics’, all pieces are skilfully and authentically shaped using the traditional pottery technique. The base forms are produced by Miguel Neto, a ceramist with 30 years of experience. The following application of BDSM materials, deformation, and finishing of the pieces were completed by Pedro Lobo.

Lobo chose clays that can tolerate high-temperature firing, meaning there was no need to glaze the since the clay itself vitrifies, making not only the pieces in containers more versatile, but also taking on the natural appearance of clay, just like human skin. ‘In the collection, there are some pieces in glazed red clay, because they were the first experiences and because it is a very typical clay to be found in traditional Portuguese pottery. By not using glazes, I try to fire the same clays in reduction and oxidation firings, to be able to produce as wide a variety of clay tones as possible,’ the designer concludes.

Pedro Lobo dresses his ceramic sculptures with BDSM props and accessories