Look Local - Meet The Maker Emma Lindegaard Studio
Linneys is showcasing some of our favourite West Australian crafters, creatives and artisans in a series called Meet The Makers. This week, we sat down with Emma Lindegaard Studio to discuss her handmade ceramics.
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Emma Lindegaard and I’m the founder of Emma Lindegaard Studio, a boutique design studio specialising in Handmade Ceramics, Long Table Gatherings, Food Styling & Florals.
What do you make and how did you become a maker?
When I first began Emma Lindegaard Studio 8 years ago I was primarily offering large-scale event styling, but as time went on I grew to learn what really suited me, which was the authenticity and attention to detail that can be offered through specialised details, such as Long Table Gatherings, Food Styling & Florals.
I was however finding it difficult when event season would finish that I no longer had a creative outlet, I realised I needed to find something to put my energy into and that’s when my ceramic journey began. This has now become my greatest passion.
I hand-coil ceramic vessels and objects from my home studio in North Fremantle, using Stoneware and Raku clay. My past 3 collections have explored both form and texture of traditional ceramic artifacts; my work referring back to discoveries I made whilst visiting an array of Museums and Galleries in France, Italy and London during 2017. I first came to clay through the desire of simply making my own set of plates for a gathering I was styling. I did a number of wheel throwing courses at FAC, but as I began exploring the craft, all of the naive ideas I had about the outcome started to float away. I quickly turned away from wheel-throwing and toward hand-building. I absolutely loved the process and its inherent meditative state, and personally it felt like more of an expression than a technique, which was what I was looking for. My head was constantly full of curves, angles and silhouettes of vessels, rather than those of plates and other functional-ware. There were no courses exploring hand-building at the time so I decided to lead a self-taught practice, and from that point onward I was hooked. It was like a spark ignited inside of me and it’s all I could think about.
After 3 years of pottering away behind closed doors I was approached by a ceramicist who was curating an exhibition in Fremantle with 4 makers from Kyoto, Japan, and she wanted me to be involved. I couldn’t quite believe it; in no way did I think I was ready, but it gave me the push I needed to put my work out into the world. I have since released 2 more collections, alongside creating pieces for Loam (Perth), Plyroom (Melbourne) and Broyt (New York).
As time moves forward I’m turning toward more sculptural works. This new body of work is heavily influenced by mid-century design; the play between organic curves, clean lines, negative space and objects of balance. Each piece is a unique expression and is as much about the process as it is about the final piece. I’m currently working towards curating a group show at the end of this year to show this next collection.
Why is making your own product so important?
I think in my particular medium it’s very important. Art, whether it be sculpture, painting, music or any other medium, is an expression of self. For me, the purity of simply making is just as important as the finished product, if not more so. It’s the being with yourself; the stillness, the guiding your attention inward and completely surrendering yourself that brings about the best work; the work that only you yourself can create.
I also think society is slowly coming back to appreciating the art of the handmade and the story behind the piece and the maker.
Where can people buy your beautiful pieces?
People can purchase my products via my website or via Instagram and I am also stocked within the beautiful doors of Loam and Plyroom.
Images by Bianca Tuzee