studio floris wubben crafts ceramics using extruders, hammers and fire

studio floris wubben crafts ceramics using extruders, hammers and fire
image courtesy of floris wubben

using semi-industrial machines that he constructs himself, studio floris wubben develops a unique interpretation of ceramic craft and design. at spazio rossana orlandi during milan design week 2015, wubben presents his ‘pressed’ project, ‘hammered bowls’ made in collaboration with piet hein eek, and ‘globe’ lighting objects. the exhibition not only looks at the finished pieces, but also the process of making, with performances by the eindhoven-based designer showcasing the ways in which he thinks and works.

‘snow vase’
image courtesy of floris wubben

the ‘pressed’ project explores the characteristics and behavior of ceramic material under the manipulation and molding of an extrusion machine. the self-developed system requires the collaborative work of both the designer and the device. malleable material is added into a huge apparatus and pushed through a mold, subtracting parts of the medium from the original rounded shape. varied compositions can produce a diverse range of shapes, sizes and formations, each hollow in the center which allows them to be used as vessels and vases.

‘sprocket vase (small)’
image courtesy of floris wubben

‘crown vase (large)’
image courtesy of floris wubben

pushing the material into the extruding machine

the composition of the mold is fixed onto the top of the device

material is pushed from the mold and shaped into vessels

vases on display at spazio rossana orlandi during milan design week 2015
image © designboom

three vessels made from the self-built device
image © designboom

for ‘hammered bowls’, wubben has collaborated with dutch designer piet hein eek in the creation of a specially-designed machine and hammer, which produces ceramic bowls. while inside the device, the object grows with each strike of the hammer, and finally fired in the oven. the growth rings that form on the bowl’s surface are an imprint of the energy released upon impact, determining the object’s appearance by the strength of its maker.

‘hammered bowls’ during milan design week 2015
image © designboom

the lines on the surface of the bowls is determined by the strength of the maker
image courtesy of floris wubben

each bowl is completely unique, based on the device and the designer
image courtesy of floris wubben

the device used to create ‘hammered bowls’
image courtesy of floris wubben

for the ‘globe project’, wubben has designed an installation inspired by a planet, where textures are made by a gas burner’s flame. fire etches onto an unbaked porcelain object, reacting to the high temperature and causing various layers to burst from the orb. as the fire burns off layers, a translucent porcelain piece emerges, affecting its final texture. the variation in layers and the glazing process make each object unique.

each lamp is completely unique based on the fire strength and length of use
image courtesy of studio floris wubben

the translucent object emerges after layers are burned away
image courtesy of studio floris wubben

the installation allows a gas burner’s flame to etch away layers of the porcelain object

thee devices used for the creation of the products, used during milan design week
image © designboom

a mold with jagged edges will produce an object with the same shape
image © designboom

the shape of the mold produces varied compositions of the vases
image © designboom

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