Statement
I am a Cornish artist inspired by the beauty found in decay. The allure of weathered, deteriorated surfaces and derelict buildings captivate me, prompting me to respond through clay as my medium. I craft layered and textured ceramic vessels, utilising slips, underglazes, and textured glazes that evoke the essence of abandoned walls that are adorned with peeling paint and graffiti. By distorting and deconstructing my vessels, I explore the relationship between form and imperfection, highlighting the contrast between carefully made and intentionally flawed. These distortions also mirror the conditions of the structures and objects that I observe, for example, the boarded-up windows, and the discarded, crushed spray cans that have lost their original forms. Photolithography plays a crucial role in my creative process; I incorporate photographs that I take of these aged structures as a way of preserving and immortalizing their fragile states, capturing fleeting moments in time and sparking conversations about their histories.
Bio
Megan Gant is a contemporary Cornish ceramicist who recently graduated from the BA (Hons) Art & Design Practice degree at Cornwall College. She draws inspiration from the forgotten corners of abandoned buildings - where paint peels, revealing forgotten memories, and cracks form in the plaster. With clay as her canvas, she creates a build-up of expressive marks using slips, underglaze, and glazes. These layers capture the essence of these dilapidated spaces and immortalise their fragility.
Her vessels invite viewers to contemplate the beauty hidden within brokenness and decay, the poetry of imperfection. Megan’s work has been exhibited at the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro, where it resonates with those who seek interest in the remnants of the past.