Going Solo: Nordic Makers New Exhibition

Nordic Makers?launches its second exhibition on August 25, with an?exhibition featuring?the?work of?Ruth Power of Danu Ceramics. Ahead of the launch, we caught up with Ruth ?to find out what inspired her solo?collection.

Ruth Power’s homeware and jewellery designs are all handcrafted in Dublin and are closely connected with nature. Many of the patterns she features have been created from objects such as fallen coconut shells found whilst travelling.

“My design range combines earthy, organic yet refined and contemporary aesthetics that display well in both urban and rustic settings. I am inspired by travels, nature, wanderlust, antiquated trade routes and Ireland.?In my designs, echoes of ancient artefacts from diverse cultures can be detected – Celtic, Roman, European, Oriental and Mesoamerican – and yet each piece is unique.”

“I use deep, luxurious glazes and enrich my designs with patterns created from found objects obtained whilst traveling, such as antique textile stamps and fallen coconut shells. Every one of my pieces has a story!?

Ruth Power

?The range I’ll be exhibiting is my new Watercolour and Gold collection, which was inspired by many trips to Paris since my partner moved there two years ago. I’ll also be showing my new Nordic-style planters as well as my jewellery collection, which was inspired by rainwater collected in rainforest cup fungi.?

Ceramic pendants

Another source of inspiration is her home surrounds of?Sandymount Strand. “Several years ago I used to get the Dart quite frequently, and I’d gaze out the window looking out onto the iconic strand. I loved the endless sand ripples and wondered if they could be cast. One day, slightly doubtful, I showed up on the strand with a bucket of water and a bag of plaster. The cast was surprisingly successful and I brought it back to the studio and made ceramic casts of the ripples – small slices of the Irish coastline glazed in copper verdigris and bronze and these pieces will also be on show at the exhibition.

The exhibition will run in Nordic Makers until October 16 in?The Lighthouse, George’s Street Lower, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.?