Ashraf Hanna 

….

Ceramics

..

Gwaith Cerameg

….

I am an Egyptian born artist living and working in Wales. I discovered ‘making’ ceramics after being introduced to clay by my wife Sue who taught me how to hand build when we met in London.

Sue also introduced me to Wales! She was brought up in Porthcawl, South Wales, and when we decided to embark on a full time career in ceramics, she suggested a move from London to Pembrokeshire where our home and studio have been for the last 26 years.

Growing up in Egypt I was surrounded by pottery forms that have changed little since ancient times; classical forms that have filtered through the ages, touched, and formed by the hand of the potter. Whilst attending still-life drawing classes at El Minia College of Fine Art, close observation of forms opened my eyes to the beauty and contentment that exist within a well-considered and executed form."

Whilst my work is rooted in classical pottery shapes, my practice is concerned with finding a contemporary minimalist approach which engages with the sculptural aesthetics of form.

I attempt to use space as a key component of design; edges are created, and three-dimensional patterns are achieved through exposure and concealment.

..

Rwy’n artist a aned yn yr Aifft, sy’n byw ac yn gweithio yng Nghymru. Darganfyddais ‘creu’ gwaith cerameg ar ôl cael fy nghyflwyno i glai gan fy ngwraig Sue, a ddysgodd i mi sut i adeiladu â llaw pan fu i ni gyfarfod yn Llundain.

Sue hefyd a’m cyflwynodd i Gymru! Cafodd ei chodi ym Mhorthcawl yn ne Cymru, a phan benderfynon ni gychwyn ar yrfa lawn-amser ym maes cerameg, hi awgrymodd ein bod yn symud o Lundain i Sir Benfro, lle mae ein cartref a’n stiwdio wedi bod am y 26 mlynedd diwethaf.

Wrth dyfu i fyny yn yr Aifft, roeddwn wedi fy amgylchynu gan ffurfiau crochenwaith sydd heb newid fawr ddim ers yr hen amseroedd; ffurfiau clasurol sydd wedi treiddio drwy’r oesoedd, wedi’u cyffwrdd, ac wedi’u ffurfio gan law’r crochenydd. Tra oeddwn yn mynychu dosbarthiadau lluniadu bywyd lonydd yng Ngholeg Celfyddyd Gain El Minia, bu i arsylwi manwl ar ffurfiau agor fy llygaid i’r prydferthwch a’r bodlonrwydd sy’n bodoli o fewn ffurf sydd wedi’i hystyried a’i chyflawni’n dda.

Tra bod fy ngwaith wedi’i wreiddio mewn siapiau crochenwaith clasurol mae fy ymarfer yn ymwneud â dod o hyd i ddull minimalaidd cyfoes sy’n ymgysylltu ag estheteg gerfluniol ffurf. Rwy’n ceisio defnyddio gofod fel elfen allweddol o ddylunio; crëir ymylon, a chyflawnir patrymau tri dimensiwn drwy ddatguddio a chuddio.

….