Ann Van Hoey in four dimensions

Ann van Hoey; Ceramic Bowl (photograph Eugene Hon)

Living at the tip of the African continent has it's advantages, especially when your country was the flavour of the month; hosts of the successful soccer football world-cup. We have arguably one of the best climates in the world (sunny-blue skies), lots of space, the game farms (big five) and the famous Table mountain. But if there is one thing that is a huge disadvantage, it's our isolation from the international art, craft and  design community. Exposure is not necessarily a problem for us (thanks to the Internet), but seeing it in the flesh, is out of reach for most South Africans. Our galleries and museums don't have the resources to purchase contemporary art and crafts. Ceramics in particular has a problem, this is due to it's tactile qualities and the nature of the surface quality; that can never be fully appreciated, unless it is tangible. Only when you handle the work up close, do you get to see it's true value; the master craftsmanship. This is demonstrated in a number of ways, in the construction skills, the form, shape and more importantly the development of the surface; that I refer to here as the fourth dimension.

Ann van Hoey; Ceramic Bowl (photograph Eugene Hon)

A case in point was when Ann van Hoey visited South Africa during the football world cup. She did a workshop for the local ceramic's community; especially the members of Ceramics SA. She happened to bring a few of her works to the workshop, for members to appreciate in the flesh - experience up close. Scale is always an issue when artifacts can only be viewed through the media. Believe me when I say, that to handle one of Van Hoey's bowls and teacups in the flesh is just incredible. To own one  is even more valuable. I have a very particular taste and I am proud to say that her work, images posted here, rates as one of my most prized possessions.  For an appraisal of her work, written by the author of this blog, follow the link provided here - Ann Van Hoey�s ceramic bowls are imbued with the quintessential of life itself. Or the label below.

Ann van Hoey. Ceramic Bowl. Collection Eugene Hon
Photograph Eugene.

Ann van Hoey; Ceramic Bowl (photograph Eugene Hon)

Ann Van Hoey. Ceramic Bowl.
Collection and Photograph - Eugene Hon.

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Ann Van Hoey in four dimensions

Ann van Hoey; Ceramic Bowl (photograph Eugene Hon)

Living at the tip of the African continent has it's advantages, especially when your country was the flavour of the month; hosts of the successful soccer football world-cup. We have arguably one of the best climates in the world (sunny-blue skies), lots of space, the game farms (big five) and the famous Table mountain. But if there is one thing that is a huge disadvantage, it's our isolation from the international art, craft and  design community. Exposure is not necessarily a problem for us (thanks to the Internet), but seeing it in the flesh, is out of reach for most South Africans. Our galleries and museums don't have the resources to purchase contemporary art and crafts. Ceramics in particular has a problem, this is due to it's tactile qualities and the nature of the surface quality; that can never be fully appreciated, unless it is tangible. Only when you handle the work up close, do you get to see it's true value; the master craftsmanship. This is demonstrated in a number of ways, in the construction skills, the form, shape and more importantly the development of the surface; that I refer to here as the fourth dimension.

Ann van Hoey; Ceramic Bowl (photograph Eugene Hon)

A case in point was when Ann van Hoey visited South Africa during the football world cup. She did a workshop for the local ceramic's community; especially the members of Ceramics SA. She happened to bring a few of her works to the workshop, for members to appreciate in the flesh - experience up close. Scale is always an issue when artifacts can only be viewed through the media. Believe me when I say, that to handle one of Van Hoey's bowls and teacups in the flesh is just incredible. To own one  is even more valuable. I have a very particular taste and I am proud to say that her work, images posted here, rates as one of my most prized possessions.  For an appraisal of her work, written by the author of this blog, follow the link provided here - Ann Van Hoey�s ceramic bowls are imbued with the quintessential of life itself. Or the label below.

Ann van Hoey. Ceramic Bowl. Collection Eugene Hon
Photograph Eugene.

Ann van Hoey; Ceramic Bowl (photograph Eugene Hon)

Ann Van Hoey. Ceramic Bowl.
Collection and Photograph - Eugene Hon.

Read More

Ann Van Hoey's bowls are imbued with the quintessential of life itself.

Ann Van Hoey�s ceramic bowls are imbued with the quintessential of life itself.

Ceramics made with engineering and mathematical precision has found favour at the highest level. These clinically constructed, monochromatic ceramic statements take one�s breath away; both the enlightened consumer and more deservingly so, those well versed in ceramic traditions, are infatuated with these masterly crafted ceramic bowls. 

Not since Bodil Manz�s vessels (1943 Denmark - image courtesy Pulzceramics) took centre stage, has one stood in awe of work quite so inspiring � sophistication in simplicity. There is no surface decoration, nothing closely resembling any form of utilitarian function � cited by the artist herself as �purity of form�. The ceramic statements are unglazed, their surfaces are stripped bare; even more �naked� than burnished pit-fired and or saggar fired pots, as well as the impermeable terra sigilata surface of Greek Vases. Made from clay and the form reminiscent of a �drop shape� imbues the work with the quintessential of life itself.

Etude G�om�trique; a variety of forms and shapes. average height H17x30x30cm earthenware clay

Edging in the rim and overlapping the walls of the bowls in exaggerated fashion, reminiscent of cutting and shaping paper, leather and material (the clay is actually cut with a pair of scissors), is what captures your imagination, when adoring these cutting edge ceramic bowls. The final ceramic statements are engineered with craft perfection, reminiscent of the Japanese paper craft �origami�. 

Made in white and red earthenware with the same kind of precision invested by the masters of their craft in producing Yixing teapots, Ann van Hoey has found her creative individual potential (centre). Embracing the �sterility' of in-fashion tableware, handcrafted by the craftsperson herself, the work permeates, heart, spirit and soul; unlike its industrially manufactured counterparts (white-ware). Mathematically conceptualized and clinically realized clay statements are not only what they are about � in essence, each one is a very simple, yet masterly crafted ceramic bowl. The work contrasts sharply with her almost Baroque inspired whimsical cups, the �Rozet� porcelain series; showcasing her creative confidence in diversity. The gestalt of her ceramic bowls has reached iconic status (an archetypal ceramic statement); a contemporary tribute to an ageless and classical tradition of hand crafted ceramic bowls, truly a benchmark for the 21^st century.

Websites, videos and links - Ann Van Hoey.

• Pulsceramics gallery
• Ceramist's Website.
• Video - construction and interview.

Latest work. White earthenware clay (Image courtesy of the Artist's Website).

• Quiet Design; sustainability & humility. Novelty is over. too much choice is confusing. Quiet design and humble classics are the answers.  One of the dominant influences, trends for the future, in keeping with the work of Van Hoey. For the complete list follow the link below ...five dominant influences. 

Living beautifully with hand crafted objects ......continued. Cited in Elle Decoration (UK edition) no 210 February 2010 - highlights 2010 Trends. The article is titled, This is tomorrow. A new year; a new start...but what does the future hold? Although tomorrow is never ours to know; the five dominant influences that will shape our homes, lives and the world of design can be predicted....What matters is what lasts (Michelle Ogundehin, February 2010, Elle Decoration 55. ). 

Ann Van Hoey - Recent Awards.

• First prize at the international biennal "At the moment..." Kapfenberg, Austria.
• Bronze Medal at "The 5th World Ceramic Biennale 2009 Korea".
• Bronze Medal at the international biennal "Ceramica Multiplex" Varazdin Croatia.
• Finalist for the "WCC-Europe Award for Contemporary Crafts 2009".
• Selection for "World Best Design Exchange", Incheon, South-Korea.
• Selection for the "Concours International 2009 Tasse et sous-tasse", Carouge, Switserland.
• Selection for the "6th Cheongju International Craft Competition 2009", South-Korea.
• Selection for the "IX Biennal International De Ceramica De Manises", Spain

Read More

Ann Van Hoey's bowls are imbued with the quintessential of life itself.

Ann Van Hoey�s ceramic bowls are imbued with the quintessential of life itself.

Ceramics made with engineering and mathematical precision has found favour at the highest level. These clinically constructed, monochromatic ceramic statements take one�s breath away; both the enlightened consumer and more deservingly so, those well versed in ceramic traditions, are infatuated with these masterly crafted ceramic bowls. 

Not since Bodil Manz�s vessels (1943 Denmark - image courtesy Pulzceramics) took centre stage, has one stood in awe of work quite so inspiring � sophistication in simplicity. There is no surface decoration, nothing closely resembling any form of utilitarian function � cited by the artist herself as �purity of form�. The ceramic statements are unglazed, their surfaces are stripped bare; even more �naked� than burnished pit-fired and or saggar fired pots, as well as the impermeable terra sigilata surface of Greek Vases. Made from clay and the form reminiscent of a �drop shape� imbues the work with the quintessential of life itself.

Etude G�om�trique; a variety of forms and shapes. average height H17x30x30cm earthenware clay

Edging in the rim and overlapping the walls of the bowls in exaggerated fashion, reminiscent of cutting and shaping paper, leather and material (the clay is actually cut with a pair of scissors), is what captures your imagination, when adoring these cutting edge ceramic bowls. The final ceramic statements are engineered with craft perfection, reminiscent of the Japanese paper craft �origami�. 

Made in white and red earthenware with the same kind of precision invested by the masters of their craft in producing Yixing teapots, Ann van Hoey has found her creative individual potential (centre). Embracing the �sterility' of in-fashion tableware, handcrafted by the craftsperson herself, the work permeates, heart, spirit and soul; unlike its industrially manufactured counterparts (white-ware). Mathematically conceptualized and clinically realized clay statements are not only what they are about � in essence, each one is a very simple, yet masterly crafted ceramic bowl. The work contrasts sharply with her almost Baroque inspired whimsical cups, the �Rozet� porcelain series; showcasing her creative confidence in diversity. The gestalt of her ceramic bowls has reached iconic status (an archetypal ceramic statement); a contemporary tribute to an ageless and classical tradition of hand crafted ceramic bowls, truly a benchmark for the 21^st century.

Websites, videos and links - Ann Van Hoey.

• Pulsceramics gallery
• Ceramist's Website.
• Video - construction and interview.

Latest work. White earthenware clay (Image courtesy of the Artist's Website).

• Quiet Design; sustainability & humility. Novelty is over. too much choice is confusing. Quiet design and humble classics are the answers.  One of the dominant influences, trends for the future, in keeping with the work of Van Hoey. For the complete list follow the link below ...five dominant influences. 

Living beautifully with hand crafted objects ......continued. Cited in Elle Decoration (UK edition) no 210 February 2010 - highlights 2010 Trends. The article is titled, This is tomorrow. A new year; a new start...but what does the future hold? Although tomorrow is never ours to know; the five dominant influences that will shape our homes, lives and the world of design can be predicted....What matters is what lasts (Michelle Ogundehin, February 2010, Elle Decoration 55. ). 

Ann Van Hoey - Recent Awards.

• First prize at the international biennal "At the moment..." Kapfenberg, Austria.
• Bronze Medal at "The 5th World Ceramic Biennale 2009 Korea".
• Bronze Medal at the international biennal "Ceramica Multiplex" Varazdin Croatia.
• Finalist for the "WCC-Europe Award for Contemporary Crafts 2009".
• Selection for "World Best Design Exchange", Incheon, South-Korea.
• Selection for the "Concours International 2009 Tasse et sous-tasse", Carouge, Switserland.
• Selection for the "6th Cheongju International Craft Competition 2009", South-Korea.
• Selection for the "IX Biennal International De Ceramica De Manises", Spain

Read More