We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.
The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ...
Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.
Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.
Contemporary Ceramics: Why do you do what you do?
Simon Hulbert: It’s my life, it is a fulfilling, fundamental, ethical profession, I am part of a tradition spanning thousands of years.
CC: How did you first get involved in working with clay?
SH: An inspirational teacher called Graham Smith in a Nottingham School, he turned a craft department into a pottery department and made pottery part of the curriculum.
CC: What is your relationship with colour?
SH: A simple one, I have moved from the beauty and purity of terracotta and terra sigillata to the beauty and purity of high fired porcelain.
CC: What images keep you company in the space where you work?
SH: Drawings, sketches, numerous postcards of contemporary and historical pieces of clay from Jane Hamlyn saltglaze to a Song dynasty Ewer
CC: How do you work?
SH: With clay on the wheel
CC: What has been a seminal/inspirational moment?
SH: Visiting Jingdezhen in China and completing four residencies, working with Chinese artist Huang Fei, collecting ancient ceramics from the shard market and Chinese calligraphy lessons.
CC: How has your practice changed over time?
SH: I am firstly a potter but have also been a teacher, curator, and more recently moved from working with terracotta making garden ware into porcelain functional pots; vases, bottles, cups and dishes.
CC: What was the first piece of art that really mattered to you?
SH: There is no one piece, I like so much, from Dutch Still Life painting to Picasso. One of the first potters that really inspired me was Peter Voulkos. One of the first pieces of pottery I bought was a Peter Smith jug from the CPA shop. I still have that along with so many other beautiful pots.
CC: How does working with clay influence your life beyond the workshop?
SH: I am surrounded by pots and part of a large ceramics community.
