Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 32
Occupation: Ceramicist and architect.
Instagram: @jan_ernst_
Hometown: Kroonstad, South Africa.
Studio location: Cape Town.
Describe what you make: The focus of my work is creating functional sculptural ceramic designs. The work takes form in lamps, candelabras, furniture, and vessels.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: The Womb Lamp 01 – Table Lamp. This was the starting point for an entire collection.
Describe the problem your work solves: Through my work, I try to create sculptural design pieces that evoke emotions, and are rooted in strong narratives of the country I live in and its landscapes. I think Western design is sometimes devoid of good stories and this is key to my designs. I also want ceramicists and potters to see that clay does not have to be expressed in a traditional sense. The material can be pushed and challenged into new forms that are exciting and challenge the rules of interior design.
Describe the project you are working on now: The Womb lighting collection that debuted at Collectible design fair. For this collection, I was inspired by the majestic rock formations found in the Cederberg region dating back thousands of years.
Walking these ancestral grounds prompts a feeling of reverence and mystique for the people who once inhabited the interleaving Stadsaal Caves [Townhall Caves]. Tremendous voids and cracks shaped by the natural elements created shelter for the first humans who settled in this region. I was fascinated and humbled to witness such signs of life depicted through intricate murals on the cave walls. This moment spent in the caves was a revelation for me on both a personal and artistic level, and a trigger for the new collection. The collection is made up of two table lamps, two wall sconces, and three pendants.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: I will be moving to France for the summer (May–August) for an artist residency in Bordeaux hosted by Galerie Revel. During my time there I will create a body of work that will stem from a land art installation. This large-scale expression will be translated into ceramic wall sculptures (reliefs).
The idea is to find commonalities between the wine region of Bordeaux and Cape Town where I live. I will use my skills as an architect and interpret the landscape through topographic studies, volume, and space-defining elements. The result will be a series of sculptures that will be exhibited in Paris in September.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: Definitely music and good light. I find that these two things influence my mood a lot, so being able to control this makes such a difference in the way I experience my creative process.
What you do when you’re not working: I spend time outdoors hiking in the forest or looking for inspiration on the beach or in the mountains. I also love to play the guitar and Ukulele.
Sources of creative envy: Antoni Gaudí, Voukenas Petrides, and JJ McDonald
The distraction you want to eliminate: Mindless scrolling on social media.
Concrete or marble? Marble.
High-rise or townhouse? Townhouse.
Remember or forget? Forget.
Aliens or ghosts? Aliens.
Dark or light? Light.
