Lotte Glob - Ceramic Artist
Weighty Books and Floating Stones
Taigh Chearsabhagh, Gallery One
17th September – 5th November 2005

Taigh Chearsabhagh presents a solo exhibition of the eminent Sutherland-based ceramic artist Lotte Glob. The artist will fill the gallery with her floating stones and unique ceramic books and also install several temporary and some permanent works in the Uist landscape.

“My creative process involves a close, continuing and intense relationship with the landscape and wilderness of the Scottish Highlands, a part of which is long hikes into the mountains, bringing back materials such as rocks and sediments. By working directly with these materials in a raw and unrefined state, combined with different clays, I create sculptural forms which are direct responses to the materials' physical nature. The sculptures are then fired to 1300 C - white heat, undergoing physical alterations similar to the landscape's volcanic origins.
It is essential for me that the firing creates the conditions for the materials to become active again, reliving this metamorphoses. High risks are often taken during this process of melting rocks, glass, clay and sediment. Despite my knowledge, developed through numerous experiments, the excitement of this process drives me on to take calculated risks as I push these materials to an extreme where they will be irrevocably transformed. Finished ceramics include large dishes, bowls, tiles, wall panels, fountains, floating stones, book works, sculptures and works to commission. Studio work has led to installations and photo-works in the landscape.

Since childhood I have lived by the sea always out walking - pockets full of stones - captivated by the tides and its movements - washing clean the sands - other times leaving strange objects - making shapes and patterns in the sand. At times the sea is wild and forbidding - at times calm and tranquil. Walking timeless hours - anytime of year - day or night - any weather - picking up bits and pieces - rolling, kicking stones along - throwing things in the sea, watching its movement.

The Scottish Highlands is an abundance of lochans, large and small, in all shapes and sizes - located in magic places low and high- reflecting the mood of the sky - echoing the clouds and patterns of the hills- the wind and the light ceaselessly playing on the water's surface- at times calm and serene, mirroring the landscape - at other times wild and frantic - some lochans deep and bottomless- other shallow and weedy - no wonder many legends of monsters witches and water horses have evolved and flourished over the years. I spend much time by these lochans, contemplating, reflecting - three floating stones went in my pocket on the way to such a loch, 2772 feet high in the hills - Wednesday, 31st August 1994.

As a gift three floating stones were launched - just as the sun was setting over the mirror black lochan - a magic moment in my life. Since then 110 more lochans scattered around the hills of the Highlands - somehow connected with invisible lines - a network of floating stones developing - extending to other parts of the globe.”

For further information contact andy mackinnon at andy@taigh-chearsabhagh.org or 01876 500240.