Winner name：

Ines Consuela Essen

Comming soon...

Introduction：

"New Forms, New Consciousness" explores ceramic design as a phenomenological act—shaping not just material but the intangible interplay of memory, identity, and spatial boundaries. This project interrogates the duality of vessels as relational objects: their hollow interiors and enclosing forms mediate between isolation and connection, preservation and transformation. Drawing from Heidegger’s philosophy, the work redefines ceramics as vessels whose cultural significance lies in their emptiness—the dynamic space that "grasps" by receiving (taking) and retaining (keeping).

Through sculptural experimentation, the project bridges traditional craftsmanship and contemporary discourse. The ceramic form becomes a metaphor for cultural heritage, where boundaries (inside/outside) are not rigid but dialogic. For example, the belly of a vessel invites filling, just as adaptive reuse revitalizes architectural voids. By fusing ceramic techniques with spatial theory, the work proposes a modernist language for clay—one that honors its tactile history while challenging its perceived limits.

This innovation aligns with the IAI Ceramic Innovation Award’s mission to merge tradition with avant-garde thinking. The project transcends functional or decorative aims, positioning ceramics as a medium for philosophical and cultural inquiry—a catalyst for redefining spatial aesthetics in design.