Andreas Kopp - Diaries of court ladies from ancient Japan

The exhibited ceramic objects go back to a series of vase motifs on paper, which Andreas Kopp created over time as an open series. The outlines are always identical, but the surfaces are always reformulated. The archaic form of the vessels and their contemporary design combine in their interaction to form an almost timeless unity.

This series was inspired by centuries-old diaries of Japanese court ladies, and initially all the color combinations found in the books were applied to the surfaces of the vases. This open series of drawings comprises over 160 sheets to date and finds its spatial, object-like counterpart in the ceramic vases that Andreas Kopp is currently creating at the Staatliche Majolika in Karlsruhe. The workshops of the Staatliche Majolika Karlsruhe have always specialized in the realization of artistic ceramic projects.

The exhibited works use special glazing techniques - for example, with sprayed, fired pigments under the crackled surface. Each vase is unique with a consistent shape.

The production of each individual vase is subject to up to nine separate handcrafted steps of varying complexity, with Andreas Kopp introducing the use of tattoo inks into the process for the first time. Gold and platinum are also used as artistic mediums, and a loose sequence of vases, standing in the Delft Blue tradition of craftsmanship, are part of this open series. Indirectly, they refer to the Dutch background of the Amsterdam-born artist.

In the meantime, the first vases have now been produced. We are pleased to be able to show you a first small selection, as a premiere!