WORK OF THE WEEK: Edmund de Waal, Last Things, 2006

Edmund de Waal
Last Things, 2006
59 porcelain vessels, with 6 celadon glazes and 6 grey glazes, on a steel plinth
tallest vessel:19.5 cm / 7 ¼ in.
Overall length:180 cm / 6ft 8 ⅞ in.

59 hand crafted porcelain vessels, the colours of which span six different shades of celadon and grey glaze, each bear an impression, in the form of a dent or imprint, of Edmund de Waal's hands. The subtle indications of the maker on each pot reflects a sense of the time that went into its creation, each vessel standing therefore as a uniquely crafted moment. In this sense, the vessels can be 'read' by the viewer, placed in a horizontal line on a dark steel plinth, like words on a page.

In Last Things, the undulating visual rhythm established by de Waal's placement of differently scaled vessels, like the tubes of a pipe organ, conjure a sense of dynamic and pulsating sound. It is the space in between the objects, as much as the objects themselves, that bring the work to life. Last Things links the convention of ceramics and craft to sculpture and fine art.

Foreground: Edmund de Waal, Last Things, 2006
Background: Edmund de Waal, music, late, 2019

Edmund de Waal
music, late, 2019
5 porcelain vessels (1 with gilding), 3 porcelain tiles with gilding and 4 steel blocks in 3 aluminium vitrines with TruVue museum glass
28 x 28 x 10 cm each
11 x 11 x 3 ⁹⁄₁₀ in. each