mini MONUMENTS | Echoes of the Future ( two sculptures 34x27x25 and 29x33x38cm also sold individually $1680 each ), 2024

ECHOES OF THE FUTURE – MINI MONUMENTS In this mini MONUMENT series titled Echoes of the Future, sheer lines plunge into dramatic curves, bridging the past to the future, while the use of textured clay cradles and deepens the shadows. Designed to be interconnected with each other or stand alone in their own cosmos. Echoes of the Future takes inspiration from the Spomenik Monument Database by Donald Niebyl, which explores the abstract and futuristic Spomeniks scattered across the former Yugoslavia between 1960—1990. Set in remote locations, the Spomeniks appear lost from the future, abandoned and forlorn. The process of building a sculpture is tangible and permanent. My work reflects my passion for bringing an idea to life through manipulating and building sculptural pieces that carry the energy of nature and the maker. When I hold the clay and feel it in my hands, there is a connection to the energy of the past and present. My decision to work with clay holds a duty to respect the environment and make choices that are mindful of the earth and its resources. This awareness flows through each of my pieces which have been made to be admired for generations.

Melbourne-based Jan Vogelpoel produces handmade, sculptural pieces that embody her love for the raw, natural finish of fired clay. Nuanced interventions – such as strategically placed voids, etchings and undulations – use light and shadow to emphasise form and texture, creating minimalist works that have a distinct energy and personality. Alongside this focus on texture and form, the architecture of nature and man is another defining narrative throughout her work.

Combining a mid-century design aesthetic with a contemporary minimalist approach, Jan’s intuitive and fervent process produces ceramic sculptures that hold an ethereal presence in any space, effortlessly reflecting connection, fluidity and strength. Each piece carries the energy of nature and the maker, and the characteristic raw finish of her work makes them highly tactile, recalling the textures of sandstone cliffs or ancient artefacts.

Born in the UK and raised in South Africa, Jan has worked with clay for over 20 years, honing her skills under South African ceramicist artists Barbara Jackson and Karen Scott. After a career in graphic design, interior styling and art direction, she started working with clay full-time in her Melbourne studio in 2019.