Caroline Martens

Caroline Martens works in sculpture and ceramics, inspired by nature, the human figure and vulnerability.

Born in Ghent on 27 June 1961.

I began my artistic path with painting. After several years, the turns of life led me in another direction: sculpture. I tried various materials, but clay proved to be my favourite. I love clay. It has a rich, pliable quality. It is soft yet resilient, and it has a will of its own. I enjoy shaping it into a model or figure.

I also enjoy letting it move between my fingers on the potter's wheel until a pleasing form emerges, whether functional or not. The process is almost therapeutic. What I enjoy most is responding freely to what the clay itself suggests. Do I continue, or is the piece already complete? Not everything needs to be perfect. Imperfection is often interesting, even moving. Beautiful.

Nature, people and human vulnerability are the sources of inspiration for my work. The feminine and the impulsive are recurring expressions within it.

Training

• Certificate in part-time secondary art education, higher level, sculpture option, Academy of Fine Arts Ghent, 30 June 2009
• Certificate, fourth year higher level part-time art education, ceramics option, Municipal Academy of Fine Arts Waasmunster, 30 June 2013
• Pottery wheel workshop with Fernand Everaert, Lochristi, July 2009
• Pottery wheel workshop with Françoise Busin, Lovendegem, August 2009
• Pottery wheel workshop with Deborah Baines, Ipswich, July 2011
• Pottery wheel workshop with Jeremy Steward, Ross-on-Wye, July 2013

Exhibitions

• WAK, pavilion at Laarne Castle, April 2011
• Open studio, Schoolstraat 31, Laarne, September 2012
• WAK, Schoolhuis Kalken, April 2013
• Lak@rt group exhibition at Hof Van Ryhove, Ghent, February 2014
• Lak@rt Art Route, Laarne-Kalken, 30-31 August 2014
• End-of-year exhibition and finissage, Waasmunster Academy, June 2015