• About us
  • Magazine
  • Submissions
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Monday, July 7, 2025
No Result
View All Result
Ceramics Now
Subscribe now
  • News
  • Artist profiles
  • Articles
  • Exhibitions
  • Ceramic art
  • Interviews
  • Resources
    • Ceramics Now Weekly
    • 2025 Ceramics Calendar
    • Open call for ceramic artists
    • Ceramics job board
    • Pottery classes
Ceramics Now
  • News
  • Artist profiles
  • Articles
  • Exhibitions
  • Ceramic art
  • Interviews
  • Resources
    • Ceramics Now Weekly
    • 2025 Ceramics Calendar
    • Open call for ceramic artists
    • Ceramics job board
    • Pottery classes
No Result
View All Result
Ceramics Now
Home Ceramic art

Susan Beiner: Bounded Fragility, 2021

August 9, 2022
in Ceramic art

Susan Beiner: Bounded Fragility, 2021

Though floor coverings provide comfort for humans to walk upon, this ceramic piece is a warning of the fragility of our planet. The surface layers create flora and fauna, which is the most common motif of rugs in historical cultures.

Here, the central focus is the artichoke, which represents hope for a prosperous future. As a food, flower and medicinal plant, the artichoke’s edible heart is protected by strong layers and is one of the oldest known foods dating back to ancient times in the Mediterranean region. The patterning throughout the piece displays the artichoke in variations of its flowering, creating a dense wildflower pattern. Four birds flank the perimeters of the center as guardians, protecting the future. The color is saturated and rich, symbolic of power, while the gold lustre reflects the sun’s power. The golden thistle as a 3D-printed bloom reaches in an upward trajectory as a representation of our growing technology.

As a visual extension of the piece, the corners convey the stitching of the rug. This establishes the relationship of the pattern to the multitude of stitches that is comprised of, and bound by, the history of craft.

I raise concerns about our fragile ecosystem of humans, animals and plants. We are surrounded by a very real and growing threat, the threat of humanity’s effect on our life-giving ecosystems. This affects every human being, but with awareness, we can all play a role to better protect our Earth and create an ecological balance between our connection to nature.

Bounded Fragility utilizes slipcasting and handbuilding where 102 porcelain sections are installed, each section corresponding to the next in its imagery. Additionally, there are 89 porcelain stems that fit into the artichoke forms as an extension into the field.

Photo Captions: Susan Beiner, Bounded Fragility, 2021, porcelain, 115 x 115 x 32”. The installation was on view at the Korean International Ceramic Biennale – KICB (second photo).

Tags: Susan Beiner

Related Posts

Jane Yang-D'Haene ceramic art
Ceramic art

Jane Yang-D’Haene: Selected works, 2024

June 25, 2025
Kristy Moreno ceramics
Ceramic art

Kristy Moreno: Selected works, 2023-2025

June 23, 2025
Mohamad Soudy ceramics
Ceramic art

Mohamad Soudy: Selected works, 2013-2020

June 16, 2025
Ho Lai ceramics
Ceramic art

Ho Lai: Traces of Fragments, 2024

June 2, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *






Latest Artist Profiles

Jane Yang-D'Haene ceramic art
Artists

Jane Yang-D’Haene

June 25, 2025
Kristy Moreno ceramics
Artists

Kristy Moreno

June 23, 2025
Mohamad Soudy ceramics
Artists

Mohamad Soudy

June 16, 2025
Ho Lai ceramics
Artists

Ho Lai

June 2, 2025

Latest Articles

Michelle Im ceramics
Articles

Hello, Goodbye: Michelle Im on Diaspora, Ritual, and the Labor of Care

by Ceramics Now
July 2, 2025
Graciela Olio post ceramics
Articles

Post-Discipline and Post-Ceramics. Questions and reflections from a Latin American perspective

by Ceramics Now
June 26, 2025
Pekka Paikkari ceramics
Articles

Fragments of History. Pekka Paikkari’s exhibition at the Ensérune Oppidum and Archaeological Museum

by Ceramics Now
June 25, 2025
Zizipho Poswa
Articles

Shaping Visibility: Reflecting on Representation in South African Ceramics

by Ceramics Now
June 19, 2025
Instagram Facebook LinkedIn
Ceramics Now

Ceramics Now is a leading independent art publication specialized in contemporary ceramics. Since 2010, we promote and document contemporary ceramic art and empower artists working with ceramics.

Pages

  • About us
  • Magazine
  • Submissions
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Subscribe to Ceramics Now Magazine

Join a vibrant community of over 22,000 readers and gain access to in-depth articles, essays, reviews, exclusive news, and critical reflections on contemporary ceramics.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

© 2010-2025 Ceramics Now - Inspiring the next generation of ceramic artists.

  • Subscribe to Ceramics Now
  • News
  • Artist profiles
  • Articles
  • Exhibitions
  • Ceramic art
  • Interviews
  • Resources
    • Ceramics Now Weekly
    • Ceramics Calendar 2025
    • Open call for ceramic artists
    • Ceramics job board
    • Pottery classes
  • About us
    • Ceramics Now Magazine
    • Submissions
    • Advertise with Ceramics Now
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result

© 2010-2025 Ceramics Now - Inspiring the next generation of ceramic artists.