Sarah Malone at Bankley Studios

Using ceramics as my medium, I have been exploring intimacy. I have expressed this by creating a body of work that draws the user in to discover hidden layers and meaning, allowing them to be intimate with the pieces. I have used sandblasting and written words to create both visual and tactile interest. This interest in intimacy came after a study trip to The Victoria and Albert Museum, where I came across the stunning artefacts from Japan. Looking at these objects from the past, I realised how important it is to study them. In a world of throwaway products it is precious to find something that stands the test of time. Something with a history, with a passion, with an energy. Objects like these hold the imprints of our ancestors, they evoke feelings within us, we have a connection with them, we can be intimate with them. I wanted to explore this intimacy with objects and relationship with the past that they evoke.