Guy Van Leemput on Wood-fired Ceramics, Art & Mathematics

For Belgian ceramicist, Guy Van Leemput, the creation of his porcelain bowls provide a journey within and a space for reflective thought. Guy says, “I hope to get to know myself better this way. Every piece is a reflection of myself and the better I know myself, the deeper I can go in my work. By expressing myself in form, I hope to touch another soul. To find peace and quiet. Peace of mind.” Guy works in series defined by process and the results of experimentation. He says, “They set boundaries, but at the same time enable growth. Not in breadth, but in depth.”

The bowls are fired once, upside down on a supporting form which leaves room for shrinkage. During the wood firing, temperature reaches 1300°C, which gives the pieces a white translucency. The smokey firing produces a subtle ash glaze and a slight movement in the shape. “When a piece comes out of the kiln and lies in my hands, I feel – when it turned out well – deeply moved. It feels like holding air in your hands, nothing but dreams … And if someone else feels that same emotion, I am twice as happy.”