The art of Nerikomi is celebrated in Jessica Rust’s Limn collection, a testament to the marriage of craft and high art. Spanning lighting pieces, a distinctive drink table, and striking vases, the collection highlights Rust’s five-year deep dive into the intricate Japanese pottery technique. By meticulously layering colored clay, Rust achieves stunning patterns and hues, creating handmade pieces that stand out for their uniqueness and authenticity, emphasizing the beauty of organic creation.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Designer: Jessica Rust
Technique: Nerikomi
Collection: Limn
Website: rustdesigns.com
Photography: Courtesy of Jessica Rust
The Limn Vases, available in varying shapes such as short, tall, or fat, showcase the diverse color patterns achievable through the Nerikomi process. Each vase, no two alike, requires weeks to complete, emphasizing the commitment to craft and the celebration of natural variations. Similar to a loom’s threads, the clay’s natural variations and thicknesses interact to craft vivid color striations, enhanced within the kiln’s intense heat. This artistic journey underscores the organic and human aspects of creation, where each piece is both a labor and a love letter to the Nerikomi tradition.
Central to the Limn collection is its lighting section, where pieces like the Limn Triangle Lamp push the boundaries of scale and aesthetic. This lamp, featuring extended Nerikomi slabs at its base tapering into smaller segments upwards, stands as a bold statement. The inherent fragility and tendency to crack within the Nerikomi technique brings an added layer of complexity and artistry when executed on larger scales. Therefore, each piece not only serves as a functional object but also as an expression of Rust’s mastery over this delicate material.
Rust further expands her exploration with the Hand-made Nerikomi Table Lamp, offered in contrasting colorways of black and cobalt blue. The lamp’s bases are a riot of colors, an artistic translation into bold, graphical shades. These hues engage the senses, offering high contrast that highlights the intense labor and creativity inherent in every Nerikomi piece. The artistry is not just in the visual aspect, but also in honoring the tradition and immense time investment that each piece demands.
The Limn Drink Table is a hallmark of Rust’s inventive approach, a synthesis of angular forms and smooth stability. Known for its vivid circular presentation, the piece artfully combines geometry with Nerikomi’s intricacy to carve new creative pathways. Rust’s enthusiasm for triangles results in unexpected, original designs where patterns are woven throughout the entire piece, embedding themselves as part of its very essence rather than mere surface embellishments.
Jessica Rust of Rust Designs blends meditative patience with organic clay craftsmanship, patiently sculpting layers into captivating porcelain expressions that deviate from predictable norms. Her work honors reflection and observation, presenting a thoughtful contrast to the fast-paced consumerism of today’s world. Each piece in the Limn collection is a testament to handmade artistry over hurried production, where each creation is celebrated as a unique narrative within the overarching story of Nerikomi. For more insights into the Limn collection, visit rustdesigns.com, where photography of Rust’s work illustrates the full breadth of her artistic journey.
