ABOUT ME

MY NAME IS LENA HARMS, BORN ON 6.6.1988 IN MUNICH. ORIGINALLY COMING FROM THE FIELD OF PRODUCT DESIGN, I NOW WORK WITH CLAY FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS. MY PIECES ARE MADE EXCLUSIVELY IN COIL- AND SLAB TECHNIQUE. I RARELY USE GLAZES AS I LOVE TO DESIGN WITH INLAYS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLAY OR PAINT WITH CLAY SLIPS. EVEN MY TEA- AND COFFEE CUPS, BECOME A WORK OF ART IN ITS OWN RIGHT, NEARLY LIKE A PAINTING. IN THIS WAY I WANT TO LET THE CLAY BE PERCEPTIBLE AS A NATURAL MATERIAL AND HIGHLIGHTING ITS RAW BEAUTY.

MY INSPIRATION IS NATURE AND ITS SHAPES AND COLORS, BUT ALSO ITS ROUGHNESS AND EARTHINESS AND THE CONTRASTS IN IT. I AM ALSO CONSTANTLY INSPIRED BY THE COLORS AND PATTERNS OF TRADITIONAL CRAFT TECHNIQUES FROM OTHER CULTURES.

I HAVE COME A LONG WAY FROM MY FIRST PIECES TO TODAY. NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF MY SKILLS, BUT ALSO EMOTIONALLY. MY WORKS REFLECT THE DEEP LONGING FOR THE DIFFERENT LIFE CLOSE TO, AND IN HARMONY WITH NATURE, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE, AND THAT I SO OFTEN MISS IN THE CITY. EACH ORNAMENT SYMBOLIZES THE PERPETUAL SEARCH FOR MY OWN IDENTITY AND THE LONGING FOR THE EXOTIC, THE WILD AND FREE LIFE.

I NEVER KNOW WHETHER I PREFER TO MAKE CUPS, VASES OR TEAPOTS. IT IS SIMPLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT I DON'T JUST MAKE A PIECE TO BE USED, BUT A PIECE WITH A SOUL THAT TOUCHES THE USER DEEPLY AND AWAKENS SOMETHING IN THEM.

IN TODAYS HECTIC WORLD, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT WITH MY SLOW WAY OF WORKING. AS A DESIGNER, I HAVE BEEN FAMILIARIZED WITH MASS PRODUCTION AND HAVE CONCIOUSLY DECIDED AGAINST IT. EACH OF MY PIECES IS CREATED IN PEACE AND DELIBERATION.