ceramics & porcelain

Printing with Ceramics

While 3D printing has been around for some

time, but a design studio called ‘UNFOLD LAB’

(www.unfold.be) have recently developed a 3D

printer that prints with ceramic material.

The results which are relatively early proto-

types contrast in a very interesting way with

what we might usually understand properites

that finished ceramic objects have. The lines

of construction can be clearly seen, which I

really like.

The machine uses powder clay which is mixed

with water and printed out using a syringe.

To test their design unfold wanted to print a

ceramic vessel which would be difficult us-

ing traditional techniques, so they drafted a

double walled vessel with fins connecting the

two walls. The result was successful and they

fired the vessel along with a number of other

testing pieces that demonstrate the printers

effectiveness.

http://www.unfold.be

Ceramic Brakes

Ceramic is used in car’s brake and it is fairly

new. It is often used in performance vehicles

and high-end sports cars which require more

stopping power. Ceramic brake has more stop-

ping ability, creates less wastage, stronger in

overheat and overuse, and it last longer, com-

pare to old semi metal brakes. Although, the

price still matters and it will take some time

to see this in ordinary cars.

*Interesting thing is that it glows red when

it is heated and still does not lose too much

stopping ability and when it is used a lot it

catches fire.

Stillness

in the Glorious Wilderness

This is a piece from a installation of eight

ceramic sculptures by Danish ceramicist Ma-

rie Torbensdatter Hermann The installation is

called Stillness in the Glorious Wildnerness.

“Hermann’s precise forms in rhythmic arrange-

ments that engage the our experience with

an object’s form and its perceived function.”+

matin-gallery.com

I chose this image because its essence is very

attractive. My mind is soothed by it. At first

glance it looks like a still image of strawber-

ry milk caught just as it explodes in the air.

This is not the case though. The material is

quite hard as it is a ceramic sculpture. It is

amazing what can be made out of a material if

you discard its attributes and look at it in a

different way.

GSG Ceramic Design

GSG is a company specialized in the produc-

tion of ceramic sanitaryware, and is to be

found in the ceramic district of Civita Castel-

lana. The gsg company has a long experiance

in the foreign market with classic design, and

now, a careful awareness of todays designs

and styles, enlarging the gamma of products

to combine a new way of living and concept of

architectural bathrooms.

http://www.ceramicagsg.com/

This is one of Toshiko Takaezu’s moon pots. While I recognize that her method was not altogether revolu-tionary (though she did dry her pots in hammocks), to me, the spirit of her work transcends the material. Because of it’s �exibility, ceramic can successfully evoke a kind of mood that I �nd is less frequently evoked by objects made with other materials. So, all in all, I suppose that I chose this ‘pot’ (moon pots are actually closed on top) because I have been obsessed with Takaezu’s work for years and because I �nd it incredibly compelling, though I am not sure why.

Elizabeth ParkerApril 4, 2011

Toshiko Takaezu

This is one of Toshiko Takaezu’s moon pots.

While I recognize that her method was not

altogether revolutionary (though she did dry

her pots in hammocks), to me, the spirit of her

work transcends the material.

Because of it’s exibility, ceramic can success-

fully evoke a kind of mood that I nd is less

frequently evoked by objects made with other

materials. So, all in all, I suppose that I chose

this ‘pot’ (moon pots are actually closed on

top) because I have been obsessed with Taka-

ezu’s work for years and because I find it

incredibly compelling, though I am not sure

why.

Nendo - Ceramic Audio Speaker

The collaboration between Nendo design stu-

dio and potter Mitsuke Masayasu created a

high-end audio speaker made of razor thin

slices of ceramic. These slices are fixed with

mercury vapor and assembled by a robotic arm

creating a circuit board aesthetic.

Aldo Bakker - Odd Cup-lings

These are all bits and pieces from the porce-

lain tableware set designed by Aldo Bakker.

Each has a unique shape according to what

each dish is used for and how the hand holds

it. Nice handiwork and highlights the simple

sleekness of porcelain.

Natucer Tiles

Called Lifearq, the deceptive bamboo-shaped

pieces are actually made of extruded porce-

lain tile and can be used to create unique

room dividers or stand-alone shade screens.

Made by Natucer company.

Porcelain Tape

“KERAFLEX porcelain tape is a thin, flexible

tape, based on ceramic raw materials and an

organic binding matrix. Due to the high flex-

ibility of the tape, completely new possibili-

ties in the porcelain processing arise:

Stamp, shape, cut, fold, bend and laminate the

tape and give your design a new creativity.

Forget traditional casting processes and dis-

cover the uncomplicated shaping with KERAF-

LEX.”

http://www.kerafol.com/en/porcelain-tape/

products.html

Ceramic Cooling Screen

material research Studio Kahn’s Ceramic Cool-

ing Screen. I love how this product is flex-

ible, elegant, while serving a very necessary

purpose of cooling an interior. This screen

contains a water pocket that uses seepage and

evaporation to perform its cooling duties.

http://www.interiordesign.net/blog/De-

sign_Green/41529-Gorgeous_Ceramic_Cooling_

Screen_by_StudioKahn.php?intref=sr