Orla Culligan

About

Studied ceramics at Limerick School of Art and Design from 2016 to 2019.

I walk along the beach, flotsam and jetsam is tangled among the seaweed. Its bright synthetic man-made colours sing out. On closer scrutiny these objects have a gorgeous range of textures where the sea has intervened. Seams and edges have softened, yet there is still evidence of the making process, of the machine.

Although rubbish, these objects in the sand create a visual dialogue. It is off balance, but strangely appealing. A random still life, an accidental composition. I am creating my own flotsam and jetsam, a colourful collection of tableware that fill your heart with joy.

From these odds and ends, I explore function and the aesthetic of the domestic, through pieces that are intended to be held and used. To be able to make objects that people can enjoy in their everyday lives is a great honour for me.