Kay Aplin: The Ceramic House

Kay Aplin is an architectural ceramist and creates site-specific commissions for the public realm and large-scale tiled installations. In 2011, Kay initiated the award-winning project The Ceramic House, a project space and living showcase of her work, where she curates exhibitions and runs residencies.

"At the beginning of the lockdown, I decided to publish a daily update on my Instagram profile and Facebook page about The Ceramic House, including features on the tiled installations I have created, objects in the permanent collection and any new projects underway. The blog started off with photographs and short videos capturing moments in the house and garden and evolved into me presenting different features and documenting making new pieces in the studio in edited videos every day.

I normally open the house each May as part of Artists Open Houses and of course this year’s exhibition called JOY was cancelled, so the blog was an attempt to replace it, although I hope to open in the autumn instead. Just as the lockdown started, I received funding from Arts Council England for an ambitious China-UK exchange project in ceramics and sound that will take place in both countries over 18 months throughout 2020-21. The Covid-19 crisis will impact hugely on many aspects of the project, not least of all travelling to China with UK artists to undertake residencies. I expect we will to have to be creative and resourceful to achieve our aims and realise the project."

You can see more of Kay's work on her website or follow her on Instagram or Twitter. You can also find out more about The Ceramic House on their dedicated website and Youtube playlist.

CuratorSpace are currently featuring articles by artists, curators and organisations who want to share their experiences of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, whether that is artists using their practice as a way of exploring new boundaries of isolation, or as a way to connect more broadly with their communities. We are also interested in hearing from curators and organisations who are offering support to artists and audiences during this time.

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