The ‘Atelier Pierre Culot’ earthenware, made again today in the atelier of late Belgian ceramist Pierre Culot, intrigues both the eye and the intellect. What is it about these handmade objects that make them speak to us in such a warm and familiar way that we too feel like putting our hands on them, running our fingers over their surfaces? Is it due to their visible irregularities which show signs of another human touch, or perhaps because they are made of natural materials we so distinctively relate to, or could it be more spiritual - that we actually sense the energy, effort and intention handed over from the creator through the object?
In a monotone glaze, the subtle forms and details of the plates, cups and bowls stand out, revealing the manual forces that either moulded, shaped or turned them; on the contrary, the basic shapes take on a secondary quiet role when they are covered in striking splash glazes which makes the colours float around, create streaks or pools and fade into each other, demonstrating the very action of glazing. Never covering the pieces fully, the raw earthenware is made visible at the bottom as a constant reminder of its natural origin. The energy in these pieces seems related both to the human who conceived them and to the elements they derive from.
‘My father was like a fire, a free electron, he had a lot of energy’, says Joseph Culot, the son of Pierre Culot. ‘His works were obviously influenced by Japanese techniques, and he worked with open glazing where they splash the glaze on with a spoon; an instinctive and very expressive method which Pierre passed on to his close collaborator throughout 30 years, Pascal Slootmakers, who is making most of what comes out of the workshop today.’ Throughout his practice, Pierre Culot sought to learn from ceramic masters such as Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, advocates of the Mingei (folks craft) movement, whose works are also well represented in Pierre’s personal ceramic collection.
About five years ago, Joseph decided to reopen the workshop and to put some selected products, like the tableware, back in production. ‘When my father passed away in 2011, we closed the atelier as we didn’t see the meaning in continuing, but after a motivating conversation with a close friend about what to do with the building and grounds, we realised that we could create a dynamic environment which would be enjoyable for us to manage and had to be based around some kind of business plan too. When we learned there was still a great demand for the designs of Pierre Culot, it was clear we had made the right choice’.
The house and grounds were bought by Pierre Culot and his wife, Miche Wynants, in 1964, and here they created a vibrant setting for their family and friends as well as their artistic practises. Today, the whole property is open and back in use: the workshop for the ceramic production, the former private house which can be visited on appointment, and the garden, a space which captures the openness of Pierre’s creative approach. ‘He touched several disciplines and made both functional and sculptural work,’ explains Joseph, ’but the base was always the earth.’
‘We are very happy to be able to communicate about our heritage and to see it alive and active. That’s why we’ve also established a residence program for artists who wish to come and work in a dialogue with what Pierre Culot already created here. We insist on keeping our production small and to collaborate with partners who understand and appreciate the same values. For us it’s like an adventure and a chance to maintain what was and to bring it new life, like in the collaboration with Marina Bautier,’ Joseph concludes.
Having already introduced several ceramic lines in the Bautier store, both Belgian, English and Japanese, it made a lot of sense for Marina to also present the work from Atelier Pierre Culot. For the opening of the new Café Bautier, Marina was looking for tableware with a particularly handmade feel – objects which would complement the Bautier Stoneware, a uniform and practical collection of plates and cups. The natural hues of the glazes, greens and whites, speak to each other whilst the contrasts in texture and surface add awareness of the materiality and the making. At Bautier, you will find both cups, plates and bowls from Atelier Pierre Culot, and you can try it out by drinking a cappuccino in the café.