Dezeen Magazine

Alissa Volchkova designs porcelain bowls to look like paint blobs

Aiming to "push the limits" of porcelain, designer Alissa Volchkova has created a series of bowls that are made by free-pouring the material to form irregular blob-like shapes.

Volchkova's Liquid Series, presented at this month's Paris Design Week, is made up of a series of multicoloured bowls.

Each is made using two processes. First, the bowl is slip-cast in a mould to create a smooth shape. The designer then pours dyed porcelain around its edge, to create irregular shapes in layers of colours.

"The final result is uncontrollable, determined by the unpredictable and spontaneous movement and kiln firing," she told Dezeen.

"Once completed, these liquid series are not only functional, but can be stacked into endless variations to create unique, graphical compositions."

Through her work, Volchkova wants to show the potential uses of porcelain – which she describes as a "fragile, precious matter".

Colours, including reds, greens, blues and yellows, were chosen to contrast with the crisp whites normally associated with the material.

"The choice of colours is an important part in this project," she said. "The result here questions the porcelain matter, [which] doesn't look like a traditional porcelain."

"I am breaking the codes of the traditional idea that we usually have of the porcelain, that is supposed to be white, shiny, sometimes translucent, with perfect lines to be considered as luxurious. Here is the total opposite – the colours are flashy, very saturated, the lines are irregular."

Volchkova is showing her Liquid Series bowls at the Now! Le Off exhibition of emerging talent, which takes place from 9 to 13 September 2017 during Paris Design Week at the Cité de la Mode et du Design, 34 Quai d'Austerlitz. The festival takes place to coincide with the autumn edition of the biannual Maison&Objet trade fair.

Also during the event, deputy mayor of Paris Jean-Louis Missika joined architects Edouard François, Chartier Dalix and Hamonic+Masson & Associés to discuss the future development of the French capital, while Studio Job presented a fast food-themed collection for Seletti.