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16 May 2018

Working with clay is ‘magic,’ says Public Choice Award winner

Jessica Hansen’s mesmerising ceramic artworks with strong social commentary were the public’s favourite in the 2017 Phatshoane Henney New Breed Art Competition, the result being that the public voted in droves for her to win the Public Choice Award!

What may very well have translated into her work and contributed to their popularity, is the love she has for the medium. “It's a very special thing, working with clay. The entire process is magic from start to finish. You have to be utterly present and observant from the very beginning because as the clay dries the way you handle it changes,” Hansen explains. 

Working with clay also means you get to ‘build’ you own canvas or surface by an array of means such as sculpting, moulding, coiling, or rolling out. “Then comes the decorating part. There are numerous ways of decorating a ceramic surface throughout the whole process - from wet clay to the final firing.

“What I love most about clay is that I can draw on it. When the clay is strong enough to carve through, that is when I am most excited. I always try copying from an original drawing of mine or from a photograph. As such, ceramics has allowed me to take my drawings to a different medium.” 
What also draws the viewer in, is the way her artworks always tell a story of sorts. “I think about people and the lives we choose to live. I prefer controversial subjects and talking about things that are taboo. I especially want to touch on topics that are hard to confront, and say things that are difficult to say, such as social issues and the decisions we make in our lives - and the consequences thereof.” 

Winning the Public Choice Award in last year’s competition, she says made her realise that she has a great many friends and other members of the public who support her artistic practice, which in turn ignited renewed excitement in her to keep producing her art. 

“I’m also very excited to now be able to work towards the Phatshoane Henney New Breed Winners Exhibition taking place at Gallery on Leviseur from the 6th of July 2018. For this occasion I’ve decided to make ceramic sculptures. I have never sculpted without using a mould before so this has taught me how to step away from moulds and make everything by hand,” she concludes.

Click here to view her winning entries and artist's profile.

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