Antoinette Badenhorst
Living in South Africa, I became aware of the rhythm of nature. Rhythmic ripples in sand dunes and dry river beds in the semi-desert areas of Namibia, warped and gnarled trees, and varying stones stacked on top of each other or scattered guilelessly by Mother Nature, was part of my everyday experience. Mississippi, with its singing Mockingbird and luscious trees exposed me to different rhythms and new nuances developed in my work.
Now, living in Chicago, adjusting to the long and harsh winters, I have started to incorporate the beauty of all seasons into my works. If some elements from my experiences are apparent in my ceramic art and people can connect with those aspects of my life, I would consider myself successful.
Once I finish a piece, I can often see its inspiration - perhaps dreams, observations, or that universal source, nature - however conscious understanding usually comes later. I love both functional and sculptural work. For me, functional work is a blank canvas to express the beauty of form, line, color and texture. Sculptural work adds the dimensions of ideas, emotions and impressions from the world around me.
I still feel the exhilaration of getting up every day, walking into the studio, looking at what I did the day before and picking up the thread again. As in childhood, it’s the organic, tactile process and its visual results that inspire me.
Antoinette was born in Johannesburg South Africa, and raised in Namibia. Her ceramic work started in 1981 with greater recognition coming in 1995 when she won the award for non-functional pottery in the Association of Potters, Northern Transvaal annual competition. In 1999 she emigrated to the U.S. where she now lives in Chicago, exhibiting in art galleries and teaching and writing about her porcelain techniques. She was continued to win awards on a national and international level. Her work also appears in several private and museum collections.
