Plywood, Hydrangea, stoneware slipcasting clay, rose petals. 210*210mm

In a personal project exploring climate change the effect of drought and the importance of water, I cast a dried hydrangea head in four thin layers of slip and fired them. I wasn’t sure if it would survive the process of a 1180˚C firing as it was already so delicate. This is directly relatable to climate change, as the fragility of the flower in drought mirrors the material – the clay after firing is itself scorched earth. The Hydrangea is a very thirsty plant and is particularly vulnerable if in a container pot. I presented the piece on a piece of plywood which has been infused with plaster and clay and the whole assemblage resembled a grave stone.

I plan to make a whole series of these and present them as a Hydra Cemetery with epitaphs around the edges of the base.