Explore Kevala through the eyes of our global artists as they sculpt and shape their unique perspectives into our journey.
In this series, Kevala opens the door to a diverse array of artistic visions, allowing each artist to shine brightly through their own unique stories. “Through The Eyes” is a celebration of individuality, where the distinct creative voices of ten talented artists echo through the medium of ceramics. Delve into the stories behind the designs, their inspirations, challenges, and personal narratives, providing insight into the profound connection between Kevala and their imaginative minds.
Through The Eyes of Philip Lakeman
The Taksu collection is a collaboration between Kevala Ceramics and Philip Lakeman from Philip Lakeman Ceramic Bali. This unique, handmade ceramic collection is inspired by Balinese art, culture and spirituality. Taksu is all about story-telling. Each piece of the collection is a one-of-a-kind certified piece of art – No two pieces are the same. Join us to explore his artistic journey and the wisdom gained from a lifetime dedicated to genuine artistic expression.
Through The Eyes of Sara Howard
Sara joined Kevala as a part of a transformative long-term artist residency at our headquarters in Sanur, Bali. Her mission: to pioneer innovative solutions that would elegantly seal the waste loop in our ceramic production and utilise local waste streams. Sara is an award-winning ceramic designer and materials researcher, whose practice is focussed on reducing the environmental and societal impacts of ceramic production.
Currently, Sara is collaborating with Kevala to implement the use of industrial waste on a larger scale. Designing a new way of consuming that reduces the harm inflicted on our planet and preserves our natural resources – without compromising on design. Sara has created collections such as the Circular Ceramics, Brutalware, and The Seratus Collection which presents a glaze developed entirely from the by-products of Kevala’s factory.
The fourteen-piece collection is handmade from locally sourced materials destined for landfill. The clay body is made from 100% waste sourced from our ceramic factories wastewater treatment system. The glaze ranges from 50% – 100% waste, sourced from natural stone factory slurries, glass consumer waste retrieved from rivers and glaze residue from ceramic factory production. The hand thrown stoneware forms are intentionally designed for longevity and are both microwave and dishwasher safe
Through The Eyes of Fliss Dodd
Fliss Dodd is a Sculptor/Photographer living in Australia. She studied Ceramics at the ANU School of Art where she fell in love with hand building. Fliss draws upon her life experiences, travel, culture, humour and everything in between as reference points and inspiration for her work. She has worked closely with textiles, interior design and photography. Her continual fascination for other cultures and travel has enabled her to develop her own unique and distinctive sense of style.
The ‘Dari Mana’ collection is inspired by travel and the island of Bali. Hand written places from Bali wrap around the pieces hoping to evoke a past memory and the connection of time and place shared from your days on this beautiful island. Indelible memories left with you from the people you meet, the places you visit and the food you eat. Every piece is hand thrown from stoneware clay and individually written by Balinese artisans.
Through The Eyes of Christine Hingston
With a degree in Fine Arts and a major in oil panting, Christine has painted every day for over 40 years, and finds inspiration looking back at her creations and ideas from twenty to forty years ago. Now transferring her art sketches and paintings onto ceramic cavings and shapes, she loves the wonderful, sometimes unexpected results in the ceramic process.
The “Hunter Gatherers” collection is an abstract, tribally inspired black and white collection. Inspired by the vast and isolated landscapes in South East Asia, Australia and Africa where people live nomadically and hunt, gather and live communally together. Christine is an Australian artist, who’s made her life about art, creating and travelling around the world.
Through The Eyes of Conchita Blanco
Conchita Blanco is an Indonesian architect trained in Melbourne. She joined Kalpataru as their creative director and designer in 2016 before opening her own architectural studio in Bali, Blanco Studio. Her work in Kalpataru ranges from designing home ware, art installation, Interior and furnishing that evolves around the architectural principle of form follows function.
Kevala’s collaboration with Conchita in designing a breakfast set focuses on simplicity and tactility. The goal was to craft a dining experience that engages the senses, placing a strong emphasis on touch. In the design process, each individual piece was carefully crafted to provide a highly tactile encounter. The user-friendly nature of the set is evident in the thoughtful incorporation of curves and lines, enhancing the overall aesthetic with an interplay of form and function. This deliberate attention to detail ensures that our unique and organic shapes not only appeal visually but also contribute to a satisfying and enjoyable tactile experience for users.
Through The Eyes of Gilly Beal
Gilly Beal, a former Bali resident, wanted to capture a design element from the island she loves so much in her ceramics. She always admired the craftsmanship inherent in the traditional Bali Aga baskets that take months to make and feature a fine, even weave. Taking them as her inspiration, she has created a series of ceramic pieces that pay homage to the beauty of the baskets.
France-based artist Gilly Beal studied art in London at Kensington & Chelsea Collage. Her work typically makes reference to the 25 years she has spent living in Asia. She often takes traditional techniques and materials and adds a contemporary, Western-influenced spin.
Through The Eyes of Dimity Kidston
Australian textile designer and weaver Dimity Kidston has had a long association with decorative objects and art. Growing up in a creative family in rural Australia, her passion for beauty and form was nurtured from an early age. Dimity brought her skills for producing unique and decorative tapestry to the art of ceramics, combining both aesthetics and functionality to all her work.
The ‘Dimity” collection is inspired by traditioonal Balinese wood carving and batik. The bright, colourful designs are carved onto the clay using a sgraffito technique. The motifs she uses in her ceramics are naïve, bold and contemporary. A hand-made aesthetic is central to her work, and as each piece is individually carved. No two pieces are the same.
