Matt Davis is a cutting edge ceramic designer who has been commissioned for a public art project at Grant’s Walk in St Austell. Matt is becoming well known for his work with digital technologies in re-interpreting classic ceramic forms. He already has work in the Potteries Museum in Stoke on Trent and has exhibited at top flight exhibitions such as Collect at the Saatchi Gallery, Decorex and Heal’s Discovers.
The commission is for one of a number of public space commissions for St Austell by the Whitegold Project. At the start of Grant’s Walk, coming from the town centre, is a covered passageway that is an important connection into the town from one of the main car parks at Priory Rd. It joins the main street in town, Fore St, with Biddicks Court behind.
The new project “As Above, So Below” by Matt has taken an unloved, dark and dingy space and introduced his tactile tessellated ceramic tiling made from china clay, incorporating light to enhance the porcelain. The black and white tiles are abstract representations of the china clay landscape, with the edges reminiscent of the local coastline. In practical terms the commission creates a lighter, more interesting and safer space to be in.
We took a few minutes of Matt’s time to talk to him about the project, how it was conceived and designed and what it will look like when completed for the Green & Whitegold online Festival for 2020. Find out more in the film below.
