Cincture, is a unique handmade porcelain ceramic architectural wall installation by the British artist Jo Taylor. A completely hand-built artwork created from architectural-inspired flourishes and swirls consisting of 12 separate unique components. These can be wall hung as shown in the images or used to create your own installation. The sizes shown are for the full installation and the approximate area it covers.

For Taylor, the making process hugely influences the final outcome of each piece. The way the raw material behaves and how it responds to her is intrinsic to the shapes and marks made. Clay pieces are made and marked with tools as the potter's wheel rotates until a collection of loops and curls of varying sizes are amassed. More clay is manipulated by hand to create further pieces with suggestions of direction.

When the clay has dried enough to be handled assembly begins, by adding and securing each piece whilst paying attention to the physical and aesthetic sense of balance. As the work evolves decisions are made regarding the composition from every angle until the work is complete.

Taylor’s inspiration comes from highly decorative architectural features such as ornate plaster ceilings, wrought iron and carved stone. Living near the Georgian city of Bath (UK) provides a rich visual resource, although it can be said that she will seek out such details wherever she goes.

Regular visits to our larger cities such as Liverpool (UK) and London (UK) offer ornament that can be experienced on a grander scale with their historic buildings such as the Sefton Park Palm House and the V&A holding many further examples. Further afield the architecture of Gaudi in Barcelona, the palaces of Potsdam and the Villa D'Este in Tivoli have all provided inspiration.

In her own words:

‘I enjoy the grand gesture present in large scale relief, the drama of deep shadow, the dialogue between space, structure & ornament. The changing light conditions of bright sunlight, a dull day, dusk or artificial light can affect the contrast and way the structure is perceived’

Taylor’s current practice has been evolving since graduation from her MA at Bath Spa University in 2012. Since that time she has exhibited widely in the UK and also in Belgium & the US, whilst also featuring in a number of publications including Ceramic Review in the UK & Ceramics Monthly in the US.