Vicki Sutherland, Flora 2

Vicki Sutherland is a ceramic artist based in Dublin. She created the delicate porcelain 'Flora' series as a response to similar Victorian pieces known as Memento Mori (from the Latin, meaning 'remember you must die'). Her sculptures, normally displayed under glass, are also inspired by 17th century Dutch floral still life paintings in which flowers or fruit are often showing signs of decay. She aims to remind the viewer of the fragility of nature and of the earth's vulnerability. She is also fascinated by plant fossils, which in a way her pieces echo.

She uses plants mostly from her own garden, especially ferns. They are covered with a thin layer of liquid porcelain, gradually building the sculptures layer by layer. They are then fired slowly in an electric kiln, allowing the organic matter to burn away, leaving the pure ceramic at a 'memento' of the natural material.

Dimensions (including glass dome with wooden base): 27 x 14cm

Like most of the artworks on this website, this piece is on display in our Clare Street shop.