About
Tim Lake creates opportunities within his working practice to allow variation and serendipitous possibilities to happen in the making and firing process. He introduces rogue elements such as raw, unrefined local materials into his clay bodies and places specific pots in particular areas of the kiln to take advantage of the flame path. These determined areas and use of materials embrace the brunt and force of the flames as they flow throughout the kiln during firing. The pieces emerge from the kiln marked with the individual story of each firing and making process. The introduction of the local, unrefined, found materials inevitably links the pieces to the place they were made.
“I make pots. Pots to be used, pots to be looked at, and most of all pots to be enjoyed. I look to impart vibrancy and life into my pots, always trying to bring the softness and suppleness of the material through to the end of the process. This, combined with the alchemic adventure of taking a base material and transforming it into objects of use and beauty, is the satisfying goal. Hopefully pots that are both vital and vibrant whilst maintaining a quiet presence. A variety of different voices inform my work, from East to West, Korea to Marshall, Karatsu to MacKenzie. I hope that the combination of these influences and personal endeavour leads to pieces of work that have a subtle beauty that only clay can allow to happen.”
Tim makes a variety of forms, ranging from vases and lidded containers to drinking cups and pouring bowls. All work is stoneware, and most of it is thrown and turned on a slow-turning kick wheel, but he also produces various slab-built plates and trays. All the works are fired between
1280°C–1300°C in a gas and wood kiln.
