Héléna 1 Vase – / Ø 7 X H 9 Cm – Mini – Serax

The five Héléna vases, in dark brown (almost black) sandstone, represent the first foray of Belgian artist Marie Michielssen into ceramics. Those who are familiar with Marie’s work know that she likes to let her hands lead the process. On this topic, she’s previously said that the repetitive nature of the actions use in modelling with plaster and papier-mâché meant that it was like meditating for her. The switch to ceramic thus wasn’t a big change. The Héléna vases have simple, cylindrical shapes, where the irregular shape of hand-modelling are clearly marked. Marie Michielssen has a preference for materials that she can mould by hand. She allows herself to be guided by her intuition, to give shape to items with an atypical and poetic look. The designer never starts by throwing down ideas on paper. No technical drawings or 3D models on the computer: she prefers to let the material express itself during the creative process by shaping it by hand. “During the modelling process, I often play with primary shapes like cylinders, spheres and squares. I bring them together to create new shapes. It’s all very intuitive.”