Pot

Charles Bound’s ceramics are gestural, rugged and loose. The organic and tonal surface of this simple form is ash-encrusted and appears geological. The uniqueness of Bound’s vessels comes from anagama wood-firing (see also 50726 and 50729). Describing his tunnel kiln as a ‘river of flame’ [1], this alchemical tool is an active participant in his practice. He says, ‘the kiln offers things I would never have seen or considered had I greater technical expertise and control of the process and outcomes.’ [2]

Bound draws on the scorched language of Japanese Bizen and Iga ware and strives to create work which ‘equally refers to being man-made and the materials it came from’. [3] Bound first studied ceramics in 1983, setting up a studio whilst working as a college technician. In 1994 he built his first wood-fired kiln and has been using this process since.

Sim Panaser, August 2020

[1] Charles Bound, ‘Fired Earth’, Ceramic Review, 224 (March/April 2007), 32-35, p. 33.

[2] Ibid., p. 34.

[3] Ibid.