Room: Axe Room
Especially commissioned for the Axe meeting room at Unilever’s Four Acres site, the artist was inspired by ancient ‘alabastron’ bottles – antiquity’s version of a perfume bottle. Fragrance has been a part of people’s daily rituals for thousands of years, and today, Axe’s products are a part of many people’s everyday, worldwide. With the ancient form and the drawings which Belle made to take in the world around her, this piece creates a dialogue between the past and present.
The characterful handles give a more obvious nod to Axe, suggesting someone putting on deodorant. Due to the nature of ceramics and having to fire the piece on its side, the vessel cracked during the kiln firing. Not disheartened by this, Belle repaired the crack using a Japanese method known as Kintsugi, which treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. The new golden seams celebrate the imperfect.
The piece was made with recycled buff clay and a wood-ash glaze made from a friend’s ash waste. Belle is excited to continue to learn and research ceramic methods which have the least impact on people and the planet.
Buff stoneware, porcelain slip, cobalt and iron oxide, wood-ash glaze, kintsugi repair. Unique.
2022
Belle Mary Foreman
Artist info
Belle Mary Foreman is a self taught potter who makes both hand-built and thrown ceramics in Bristol.
Belle seeks to make pots that are a joy to use, which will be used as a part of people’s everyday rituals and bring a sense of calm. Fascinated by people’s relationships with objects, Belle likes to keep the little marks which tell the story of how her pots were made. By leaving her traces, she hopes to create a dialogue between the user, pot and maker.
Belle studied BA(Hons) Illustration Animation at Kingston School of Art, graduating in 2021. Whilst ceramics is her main medium, writing, drawing and print-making are also part of her practice.
Belle studied BA(Hons) Illustration Animation at Kingston School of Art, graduating in 2021. Whilst ceramics is her main medium, print-making, writing and drawing are also part of her practice.