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Ceramics & Glass (MA)

Natasha Fontenelle

Natasha is a multidisciplinary artist working performatively with a wide variety of materials, processes and disciplines, interwoven around her ceramic practice.

Inspired by music, imagination and personal experience she hand-builds, working intimately and empathetically in collaboration with either the material, her environment or other artists, to create new worlds and inhabitants which currently manifest as

THE QUIET ONES

The imaginary, organic, past, and futuristic species that dwell inside her sculptures. These creatures are hybrid self-sufficient organisms, who live in symbiotic harmony with their environment. Neighbouring tribes inhabit different sculptures and have varying hierarchical roles. They had been quietly making noise, down inside there for some time only appearing in drawings on paper. Recently, they began to migrate en masse outside the sculptures shapeshifting form and speaking on their experiences.

Natasha's role is as their silent observer.



Degree Details

School of Arts & HumanitiesCeramics & Glass (MA)

Show Location: Battersea campus: Dyson & Woo Buildings, First floor

Natasha Fontenelle-statement

(MANIFESTO)

She


Never lost control

Allowed herself to be led


Surrendered to the dance

Said what needed to be said


Voice heard by listeners

Language power inside her head


No need for all the answers

Or awareness of every rule


They won’t run free if you don’t leave them be

Stop to question - Stifle creativity


Dancing forward is how she breathes

Quietly Making Noise







During the summer of 2021, I undertook a three-month residency in St Lucia where I had the assistance of three interns from the School of Art and Design.

.

.

In the quarantine hotel with only the birds for company, they flaunted and shared their freedom with me during their daily visits to the balcony – It was here I decided on becoming the BLACKBIRD.

I thought back to my previous solo exhibition titles - looking at where they came from - how I felt then - what place I was in – where I wanted to be – then followed that journey - told as a story - about the BROWN GIRL IN THE RING who felt LOST AND FOUND so began QUIETLY MAKING NOISE till she turned into a BLACKBIRD

PROJECT BLACKBIRD is about my evolution into one whilst projecting back at me who I always was. Exploring themes of intuition, vulnerability, movement, ritual and notions of quiet noise - documented through ceramics, textiles and film.

I present project blackbird as an immersive installation experience comprising of multiple component parts.

Medium:

MIXED MEDIA INSTALLATION
CORNERS, FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA /COLLAGE
CORNERS, FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA /COLLAGE
CORNERS, FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA /COLLAGE
CORNERS, FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA /COLLAGE
CORNERS, FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA /COLLAGE
CORNERS, FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA /COLLAGE
CORNERS, FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA /COLLAGE
CORNERS, FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA /COLLAGE
CORNERS, FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA /COLLAGE

Made in St Lucia, CORNERS highlighted themes of site specificity and occupying space. Through the act of drawing and acknowledging the existence of THE QUIET ONES, I gave them the validity and attention they required to grow freely, transform and comfortably occupy a much larger space - the freedom and space available on the island enhanced this process.

Medium:

FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA /COLLAGE

Size:

6FT x4FT
DAY ONE
DAY ONE
DAY TWO
DAY TWO
DAY THREE
DAY THREE
SIX AND SIX, FILM
SIX AND SIX, FILM
Film - SIX AND SIX

Durational film recorded over three consecutive days. SIX AND SIX is a performative experience of self-expression, inspired by the trees, bird song and morning sounds. Working intuitively with the energy of the day, I used local clay and movement to embody the Blackbird.

Preparation for each day would start the evening before, where at 6pm I would bathe in the sea, to be provide healing and replenishment to begin the experience the next morning at 6am.

In the lead up to the performance I drank a cleanser tonic to help remove toxins from my body and worked closely with a mystic coach on clearing and movement of energy.

The only structure to the piece was that on day one I would re enact the previous exhibition titles, to purge those past artistic incarnations – once they were released the Blackbird could be free.


Medium:

FILM
HOME, CERAMIC / BLACK CLAY
HOME, CERAMIC / BLACK CLAY

On return to the UK and relocation to the Battersea studio after a year online. To self-sooth and re orientate into my new workspace I began work by making familiar forms.

HOME are individual component pieces of energy, that compound to create a final expression – They are the source and original dwelling of THE QUIET ONES.


Medium:

CERAMIC / BLACK CLAY

Size:

INSTALLATION
PAGES, CERAMIC / BLACK CLAY
PAGES, CERAMIC / BLACK CLAY
PAGES, CERAMIC / BLACK CLAY
PAGES, CERAMIC / BLACK CLAY
PAGES, CERAMIC / BLACK CLAY

Inspired by the beautiful struggle of writing my dissertation – The content and visual representation. PAGES are the prelude narrative to a story that was told before.

Medium:

CERAMIC / BLACK CLAY

Size:

INSTALLATION
THE ONE, FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA / COLLAGE

Completion of the circle - THE ONE comprises of many elements of previous works and is a full representation of the new space we now occupy.


Medium:

FABRIC / MIXED MEDIA / COLLAGE

Size:

6FT x 8FT

RCA Studentship / The Worshipful Company of Grocers