sinkhole vessels by liliana ovalle and colectivo 1050

sinkhole vessels by liliana ovalle and colectivo 1050º

gallery libby sellers presents ‘sinkhole vessels’ by liliana ovalle and colectivo 1050º a series of black containers that stand as a a portrayal of those voids that emerge abruptly from the ground, dissolving their surroundings into an irretrievable space. each piece is suspended within a wooden frame, alluding to a cross section of the ground that reveals the hidden topographies. the clay shapes (a limited edition of ten) are based in local archetypes for utilitarian pottery, were crafted by local ceramists from tlapazola, oaxaca using ancestral techniques and skills that are struggling to find a place in the contemporary global landscape. by making reference to different process of extinction, the sinkhole project aims to reflect and extend the permanence of what seems to be inevitably falling into a void. part of the program of the london design festival 2013, the works will be on show until october 5th, 2013.

the sinkhole concept illustrated by liliana ovalle (via archivo)

details of the vessels…

‘the project originated from a personal interest in sinkholes. this phenomena, from which we hear sensational news every now and then, reveals an underlying space of unknown dimensions. how could these dark sudden topographies be translated into vessels? the initial concept was enriched and developed through the collaboration with colectivo 1050º, whose thorough knowledge and experience with the local ceramists of oaxaca enabled the execution of the clay pieces.’ – liliana ovalle

making of
the vessels were crafted intlapazola by the mateo family: dorotea, alberta, macrina, angelina, elia and amalia, a group of highly skilled ceramists who inherited ancestral techniques that are deeply embedded in the local culture.

foam models were documented and sent to the ceramists in tlapazola, oaxaca.

bi-dimensional drawings were translated with the aid of measured wooden sticks.

alberta and dorotea mold the the vessels using the ¨cone” tecnique. the clay is molded on plates balanced on rocks and then spun by hand.

once the pieces were dried and fired for a first time, a second ‘open’ fire was made to blacken out the vessels.

the tones and gradients of each vessel were controlled by exposing them directly to the flame or the burning ashes. the blackening process lasts approximately one hour.

final fitting of the ceramic pieces into the oak frames.

project information
edition of 10
design: liliana ovalle
production: colectivo 1050º
red clay (open fire 800º) and oak

sinkhole no. 1 bola. 34 x 33 x 30 cms
sinkhole no. 2 olludo. 32 x 26 x 40 cms
sinkhole no. 3 botita. 30 x 23 x 33 cms
sinkhole no. 4 bule. 27 x 26 x 30 cms
sinkhole no. 5 chaparrito. 36 x 28 x 23 cms

for more london design festival 2013 events see designboom’s interactive map and guide »