Jasmine Simpson
About
Born in Boston, Lincolnshire and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, Jasmine received her BA in 3D Design and Ceramics at Staffordshire University 2014 and her MA in Ceramics & Glass at the Royal College of Art, London 2020, here she was awarded a Griffin Scholarship. During her time at the RCA Jasmine collaborated with Waddesdon manor to create a set of tableware designs for them, which then went on to be exhibited at Thomas Goodes for London Craft Week 2019. She was also selected for the RCA’s China project, where she did a residency on behalf of a new funded project space in the cultural centre of ceramics Taoxichuan in Jingdezhen, China. She continues her practice in Stoke-on-Trent where she is currently living, exhibiting up and down the UK and she intends to stem her practice internationally.
Statement
"We humans have used zoomorphic iconography for as long as we could depict animals onto cave walls. We use animals to represent ourselves, they have become archetypes, spiritual entities and greatest allies. The term ‘Phsycopomp’ particularly interests me, throughout history; across many cultures these creatures/spirits are said to take the form of a number of animals to help guide the dying into the afterlife. In Jungian Psychology the phsycopomp is a mediator between the conscious and unconscious, I see them as a representation of our inner selves. I often find myself with sketchbook in hand capturing initial drawings and paintings of live subjects in nature, I can then use these expressive snapshots to inform my sculptural practice. I reference literature that looks at animals as metaphor, a theme that allows me to investigate the ambiguous, dark humour of the human spirit, such as the works of Ted Hughes ‘Crow’ and George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. I like to tell a story about these subjects in a variety of materials including paper and ceramics, the ghostly white materials provide a canvas in animal form which alludes to spirit-like creatures revealed behind the layers of ink, paint, oxides and stains. In future I want to explore a multiplicity of mediums that will inform each other, such as books, painting, print, ceramics and wood."
Table and Tiles
Ceramic table set complete with seating. Hand thrown and decorated with contemporary designs in 'Qing Hua' style in cobalt oxide. Made from the finest and most durable high fired Chinese porcelain which enables the table set to withstand all weathers including frost. Table and seating were made in collaboration with a local ceramic throwing factory in Jingdehzen, China.
Tile mural made up of six 28cmx28cm fine white porcelain tiles, made using a special rolling technique perfected by local craftsmen in Jingdehzen. Decorated with greyhound design in brilliant blue cobalt oxide. perfect for wall mounting and interior spaces.
For commission enquiries email Jasmine.simpson@network.rca.ac.uk
Medium: Chinese porcelain, cobalt oxide and glaze.
Size: Table: 98cmx78cm Stools: 30cmx42cm Tile Mural: 56cmx84cmx0.5cm
In Collaboration with:
- Ceramic Throwing Factory, Jingdehzen, China.
Zoological Stories: illustrated Plate series
Large porcelain plates. Hand decorated in a mix of underglazes and cobalt oxide in 'Qing Hua' style.
Various contemporary designs by artist on the theme of 'Stories of the Domestic and the Wild animal', combining the idea of the ceramic plate and the canvas.
Plates sourced at a local 'Jigger Jolly' maker in Jingdehzen, China. Ideal for wall mounted display.
For the purchase of any of the plates please click the following link:
https://rca-sales.com/collections/vendors?q=jasmine.simpson@network.rca.ac.uk
Or For Commission enquires please email jasmine.simpson@network.rca.ac.uk
Medium: Porcelain, underglaze, oxides and clear glaze.
Size: Plates: 35cm radius, 4cm depth
In Collaboration with:
- Ceramic Throwing Factory, Jingdehzen, China.
Staffordshire Furnace Terriers
Series of dog pairs that reference the historic Staffordshire furnace terriers. Modelled and cast separately to give each dog individual character. Press moulded and hand decorated using a variety of techniques including slip trailing, masking and sgraffito in slips, underglaze and oxides. Made in collaboration with local craftsmen of Jingdehzen, China to produce moulds for hand production.
Medium: Porcelain, coloured slip, underglaze and glaze.
Size: left dog 20x27x15cm Right dog 20x31x17cm
In Collaboration with:
- Mould maker, Jingdehzen, China.
Animal Sculptures and Ceramic Painting
Ceramics if the closest medium we have to painting in the round, I find that porcelain paper clay is the perfect way to show this, its canvas like qualities are perfect for mark making and create a sketch in 3D look.
Within these works I explored the theme of animals as metaphor.
Hand thrown porcelain vase, decorated with contemporary 'Bull and Bulldogs' design in underglazes and clear glaze.
For the purchase of any of the plates please click the following link:
https://rca-sales.com/collections/vendors?q=jasmine.simpson@network.rca.ac.uk
Or For Commission enquires please email jasmine.simpson@network.rca.ac.uk
Medium: Porcelain Paper clay, Porcelain, glaze, oxides and underglaze.
Size: Laying Dog: 53x22x20cm Crow:18x35x21cm Dog Bust: 15x23x20cm Bull Vase:44x43cm
Lockdown Artwork
Series of paintings and paper sculptures made during the Covid19 lockdown. As there was limited access to studios and kilns it created alternative ways of thinking, Jasmine discovered a love for paper as a sculpting medium, basing each subject on the literature she read during the lockdown. Jasmine intends to use paper sculpture in future projects to inform her drawing and ceramic pieces, she quotes "ceramics is the closest thing we have to painting in the round, my creations hop between 2D and 3D, a sketch becomes a paper sculpture that can become a painting and a ceramic piece".
Medium: Brown paper, ink and paint.
Tableware Designs
Table ware designed by Jasmine for Waddesdon Manor, inspired by Waddesdon Manors aviary. Hand drawn elements manipulated using computer aided design.
Designs were exhibited in the Waddesdon shop and gallery and for London Craft week 2019 at Thomas Goode & Co.
Medium: Bone China with decals made with CAD.
Size: Various table ware sizes.
In Collaboration with:
- Waddesdon Manor
Jasmine worked in collaboration with Waddesdon Manor to create a collection based on the manor, their collections and aviary. Waddesdon Manor then displayed the tableware collection in their gallery/shop. - Thomas Goode & Co.
Thomas Goode & Co. agreed to display the tableware collection in their show room for London Craft Week 2019.
Sponsors
Griffin Scholarship
Scholarship awarded by Sarah and Gerard Griffin.
Sneyd Ceramics ltd.
Website: https://sneydceramics.co.uk
Reiko Kaneko
Website: https://reikokaneko.co.uk