Valerie Merlo
Kingston University; Royal College of Art, London

"Since I work in ceramic, the clay has become my pencil for drawing. I enjoy the sensuality of the material, at the same time its simplicity and generosity. I have learnt to build large and ambitious sculptures using the coiling technique, which challenges both process and the way I think about making. I am questioning the human figure and hybrid forms such as centaurs, mythology in a broad and contemporary sense. Recently my work reflects the concept of sleep and dreams, the notion of gravity in sculpture and its contradictions."
Coiled terracotta with spoons.