Rob Anderson

Education

Sheffield Hallam University BA Jewellery & Metalwork

New Designer of the Year Award – Business Design Centre, London

NADFAS North East Area Bursary Winner – Millennium Gallery, Sheffield

"Heavy Hands is a body of work created in order to explore my own understanding of aesthetics and form.  I took inspiration from the textures of concrete found in Brutalist buildings and studied the movement’s attitudes toward form.  I combined this interest with the aesthetics of Japanese ceramics and their ‘quiet beauty’.

I learned to be completely present in the moments of making the object, which allowed me to carefully consider every aspect. Whether I was intentionally changing the form of a vessel with extra hammer blows, or whether I was deciding if I should leave a patch of oxide that naturally formed during the soldering process, every mark on the vessels are considered in depth.  Shapes, textures, colours and forms are all informed by the subtleties of the materials used.  This one of the main reasons why I wanted to use steel.  It is generally overlooked by most as a material that can be manipulated by hand into something unique and attractive.  I used an earthy palette to describe the forms and reinforce their humility.  The vessels are all sturdy enough to be dropped and also heavy enough to not be forgotten about in the hand.  Both of these factors are present to encourage people to pick up the vessel and actually hold onto them until they are finished with them.

Each cup has an individual identity, whilst still having visual references to the rest of its family."