"Intimacy" by Verena Gaudy

“Intimacy”

As a ceramic artist I am very much interested in the material of clay and how it affects different people in different ways. The sense of touch is highly stimulated and often a sensation is generated, that is beyond words. In our daily lives we are so used to touching non-malleable objects, like phones, computer keys, doorknobs, steering wheels etc., that leaving an “imprint” on clay fascinates us in a childlike, rudimentary way that is deeply rooted in humankind’s need for creation. Clay, this natural, crude material, has often been described in its unfired form as of similar quality to human flesh and skin. During the years of the COVID pandemic, our sense of touch has been restricted even more, and many people experienced physical isolation. In this project I want to explore the sensation of touch, the “intimacy” of clay.

This project was made possible with the support of the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture and the UTSA School of Art.