It’s no secret that we’re into bold, simple visuals and beautiful objects here at Glasshouse. Less is always more where we’re concerned - from our salon space to the products we stock, a pared back aesthetic and easy, minimal feel is always our go-to mood.

That’s why we’re so struck by the work of Spanish artist Joan Serra, whose medium is ceramics. We’ve been really enjoying ceramics on the Journal recently - having featured the talented Louise Madzia a few weeks ago - and Joan’s work, whilst different to Louise’s, is just another reason why we’re enamoured by enamel.

Joan’s ceramics are created with exhibition in mind, so they’re slightly different than pieces which are made for daily use in the home. He crafts imposing, cracked cubes in bright whites and gloomy blacks, through an interesting process of over-firing the clay. The result is stunning ceramics which evoke images of cracked earth in faraway deserts.

This link with the natural is something that Joan is very conscious of in his work. His process attempts to recreate geological events, rendering his final products as miniature versions of the land we walk on. In this way, he brings humans and nature together, highlighting both the beauty and destruction that can be created through this relationship.

It’s a powerful message, and again, it’s one we think about a lot at Glasshouse. As an environmentally friendly salon, we’re always considering our links with the natural world in the same way. We love appreciating it, but we’re also aware of the damage we can do too, so we try to reduce our impact wherever we can.

This shared ethos adds a personal element to Joan’s work for us, especially when it’s something so near the core of what we do.

What we also find fascinating is the fact that all of his pieces reflect stages of transition. They present processes like cracking and breaking almost as they are happening, and we think it’s a really interesting way of looking at the modern world and the way that things are constantly changing, growing and evolving - breaking, as Joan’s work shows, doesn‘t always mean being broken.

So next time you’re after some design inspiration, be sure to take a look at the work of Joan Serra - it’s bold, technical and extremely beautiful, and we can’t wait to see what this creative so influenced by the natural world does next.

Cover image: pulsceramics.com
Words: Lauren O’Neill