It’s hard not to be taken by Louise Daneels’ ceramic sculptures. Recreating everyday items like toothbrushes and food packages, her Instagram page looks like a modern shrine for consumerism. The self-taught ceramic artist taught herself how to work with clay through YouTube tutorials, whilst completing a master’s degree in illustration at KASK School of Arts in Ghent, Belgium.
“My first contact with clay was during my Erasmus year in Leipzig,” she shared in an interview with Its Nice That. “In our illustration class, we were set a project around space. I wanted to recreate the inside of the international space station bathroom, because I find it fascinating how astronauts do their personal hygiene in space. I had to find a material to make ‘space hygiene tools’ with, and air-drying clay seemed the nicest and easiest material to work with.”
These objects, though common, carry a special meaning to Daneels, explaining that “I made a selection of objects that play an important role in my memories and my personal life story. By being the archaeologist of my own memories, I tried to bring the memories back to life in ceramic sculptures. The work brings up a memory-game of associations and stories.”
“The passion for ceramics came from my grandmother, who makes porcelain dolls,” she explained. “I’ve seen her making them since I was born. I was always fascinated when I entered her workspace and saw all the porcelain heads, bodies and her huge collection of old fabrics.”
Check out some of her beautiful creations in the gallery below.
