SUSAN NEMETH

While studying ceramics at Wolverhampton Polytechnic in the 1970’s, Susan Nemeth became aware of derelict houses waiting for demolition which surrounded the college. She was fascinated by the layers of peeling wallpapers, mainly 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s floral and paisley patterns, often with delicate looking burnt edges. Thus began her love affair with layers and pattern.
Her pieces are painstakingly constructed by first rolling a base sheet of porcelain. Onto this are placed inlays cut from previously poured and semi-dried coloured slip. The inlays are rollered into position, and then the process repeated with several more colours of slip until the pattern is complete. The piece is turned, & the pattern repeated, with variations, on the other side.
Next the work is gradually pressed and burnished over or into a plaster mould, also made by Susan from a turned base.
The work has to be dried very slowly to prevent warping, with larger pieces this can take up to six weeks. This is followed by low bisque firing, polishing under water under wet and dry paper, then further firing buried in silica sand.
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