Merete Rasmussen: Sculptural Ceramics

About

Danish-born ceramicist Merete Rasmussen grew up in Sweden, returning to Denmark to study at the Design School, Kolding, before moving to London in 2005. However, her work retains strong connections to the clean and simple lines that typify the best of Scandinavian design. There is sometimes a line drawn between the artist as ceramicist and the artist as sculptor, a divide that in many ways is an artificial conceit. For Rasmusssen the material is the vehicle for her ideas as a sculptor, which focus predominantly on abstract sculptural form, taking her inspiration from observation of form in nature as well as architecture and design. Her work is hand-built in coiling technique, stoneware her chosen material. Her skill — her craft — is highly developed, and necessary for her sculptures to be right in their composition, balance and presence. Many of Merete Rasmussen's sculptures have one continuous surface, which comes from the mathematical construct of the Möbius Strip. She takes the invention further, however, creating the most intricate and lyrical rolling and twisting forms with surfaces that are rich in saturated colour. Her use of matt and monochrome colour emphasises the shape of her objects, enabling her to explore contrasts between sharp edges and smooth surfaces.