Zaratea Gården Hurtig

About

Zaratea Gården Hurtig (1990), originally from Norway/Sweden, is currently based in London. She completed her BA from the Royal Danish Academy in Denmark 2019, and is graduating with an MA in Ceramics from the Royal College of Art, 2022.

Zaratea has exhibited at A. Petersen, Bornholm's Art museum and Clay, in Denmark between 2019 and 2020, in which year she also debuted internationally at Puls Ceramics in Brussels, Belgium. Recently she curated and organized a show together with Inger Heeschen, also graduating from the RCA, at The House of Vans, London.

The work she does refers to and reflects about our everyday, life and the things its filled up with, be it flowers, animals, textures or stories.

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Statement

My work is as much a parody as an appreciation of the everyday. With some ignorance of rules and some humour, my pieces might appear suspended mid-process, possessing a sketch-like energy. They come from a fine blend of stories, nature, people, animals and some nostalgia. Inspired by children's books and the surreal, I often build stages. Nonsensical scenes with references to the known - homes, plants and paintings, organized in a dreamlike logic. Its a colourful sometimes sweet, sometimes sinister interpretation of the world around us.

A Sunny Place For Shady People

"A Sunny Place For Shady People"
"A Sunny Place For Shady People"
"Clara and the Bear"
"Clara and the Bear" — is made after a nightmare about a bear eating the family dog. So here's the prequel.
"Miami Fireworks"
"Miami Fireworks" — is inspired by the home in "The Birdcage". I imagine that one should listen to Beach Boys, while looking at this.
"Mr. Fox and Family"
"Mr. Fox and Family"
"Ruthus - the Favourite"
"Ruthus - the Favourite" — was the final piece I made. I didn't have very high hopes - but as it usually goes, it ended up being a winner!
"A Day in the Park"
"A Day in the Park"
"Visiting Tiger"
"Visiting Tiger" — is as the title says, a visitor in the otherwise pretty English landscape.
"Battersea Sunset"
"Battersea Sunset" — was what the sunset looked like on a good day, when we had 5 a minutes break and could sneak out for a little drink at the Thames.
"The Forerunner"
"The Forerunner" — was the first of the candelabras, and also the one to set the tone for the whole project. It might also be, the one I like the most.
"The Forerunner"
"The Forerunner"
"Blue Melting Mountains"
"Blue Melting Mountains"
"Blue Foxes and Parakeets"
"Blue Foxes and Parakeets" — is to remind you about all the odd birds around!
"All That Glimmers IS Gold"
"All That Glimmers IS Gold" — fake gold and weed flowers - but they're just as pretty.
"Big Octopus"
"Big Octopus" — had a hard time coming to life, and got some scars on the way.
"Cloudy Beads"
"Cloudy Beads"
"Miami Sunset"
"Miami Sunset"
"Zebra Table"
"Zebra Table" — ties it all together, and will spice up any home! The zebra skin rug is out - this is what's in!
"Poisonous Palmtree"
"Poisonous Palmtree"
"A Sunny Place For Shady People"
"A Sunny Place For Shady People"
"Lady Throne"
"Lady Throne" — is what happens when your life is a little too rococo...
"Mr. Fox"
"Mr. Fox" — appears throughout the scene, and if you're lucky you might meet him in the early morning hours out in the city as well!
"Mr. Urban Fox"
"Mr. Urban Fox" — is well known around London, a proper night owl, and always happy for a late night snack.
"Poisonous Protea"
"Poisonous Protea" — grows in dark and dangerous places, but is widely known for brightening your life!
"Relic Candelabra"
"Relic Candelabra" — is a perfect gateway piece, to ease into the wilder ones.
"Snailtrail and Oilspill"
"Snailtrail and Oilspill" — is a small textural vibe for the one that is not ready for the figurative. Another good gateway piece to start with.
"Lady in Red"
"Lady in Red" — Nobody puts "Lady in Red" in a corner! As a part of a collection of candelabras, these pieces grew more alien as you can see...
"Lady in Red"
"Lady in Red"
"No Damsel in Distress"
"No Damsel in Distress" — This lady knows what she wants, and is not afraid to go for it.
"The Chameleon"
"The Chameleon" — might blend in (in nature) but not so easily in your home. But that's not the point either, rather the opposite!
"Wildlife"
"Wildlife" — was originally an Instagram-story from one of my friends that got stuck in my head.
"Orchid Stool"
"Orchid Stool" — is the odd piece you never know where to place, but cant get rid off, since it has something to it, after all.
"Shimmering Park Plant"
"Shimmering Park Plant" — is an abstraction of the candelabras, a little more modest maybe, but still shimmering!
"Shimmering Park Plant"
"Shimmering Park Plant"
"Spring Time"
"Spring Time" — is an ode to the magnolias flowering all around London, and the fresh pure green colours popping in grass and leaves!
"Winter Garden"
"Winter Garden" — also belong to the time before spring, which the colours reflect.
"Wartimes"
"Wartimes"

"A Sunny Place For Shady People" is a physical diary of sorts. A collection and collage of reflections of things I've seen, met, thought of and remembered. Its an homage to the everyday and the peculiar, like foxes and palm trees, in a city like London.

Medium: Stoneware, Slip, Solder, Glaze, Metal Leaf, Metal, Milliput

Size: Various size

Downtown Digging

Install
Install
The Catalouge with our logo
Picture taken in the photo booth, custom made with our logo, for the opening night.

These skateboards were made as a part of a group show, organized and curated by Inger Heeschen (also graduating RCA 2022) and myself. It was a project searching for unorthodox presentation of art, why it was located at the House of Vans, London. All contributing artists came from different departments at the RCA, and are all contemplating the urban city, in one way or the other.

Medium: Ceramics

Size: various sizes

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