Q&A
Q： Introduce yourself
A：My name is Nadav Drukker. I am a professor of theoretical physics at King’s College London and a ceramic artist. I grew up in Israel and studied in Israel and the US, which is also where I started to practice ceramics, over 20 years ago.
I’ve been an amateur potter for many years as I lived in the US, Israel, Denmark and Germany. When I got my job in London I also set up my own ceramic studio in my garden and decided to get a bit more serious about my art.
Q： When did you come up with the idea to combine your research concepts in the field of physics with art?
A： As an artist one needs to find a way to express something personal and a way to differentiate oneself from other artists. This led me to combine my ceramics with my physics research. I’m very passionate about my research and it’s very personal.
Q： Why did you choose ceramic as the final carrier?
A： One thing I always cherished about ceramics is the wide range of materials one can work with, like porcelain and stoneware and different glazes and different decoration techniques. One of the advantages of my choice of specialisation is that it does not limit me to one material or technique. As long as it’s inspired by my science and is decorated with my formulas, I’m being true to my art.
Q： Is there a different way of thinking about doing physics experiments compared with doing pottery now?
A： My research is not experimental, it’s all theoretical, using pen and paper and sometimes computers. So it is very different from the way I experiment with ceramics. I do think it complements that part of me that allows me to do practical things and not only theoretical research.
But physics experiments requires very careful preparation and measurements, far more than is required in most ceramic practices. So my lack of experimental physics experience does not hinder me. But I also think that I do like to experiment and try new things, even if I’m not as methodical and careful about it as I would have to be if I did physics experiments.
Q： Why did you choose to do resident art in Taoxichuan, Jingdezhen?
A： I chose to come to Jingdezhen and Taoxichuan after I was invited to give physics lectures in Shanghai. This was an excuse to spend time in China and I decided that I also want to go to the birthplace of porcelain, one of my favourite materials, and work with it there.
Q： How do you feel after your stay in Taoxichuan?
A: I’ve had a dream for a long time to try to recreate blackboards in clay and one of the only places where large ceramic slabs are made is Jingdezhen. Luckily I was able to get a residency at the international studio in Taoxichuan and they put me in touch with a tile maker that allowed me to realise this dream.
I worked very hard for the past month. Except when I was lecturing in Shanghai, I spent most days at least 14 hours in the studio. It was an intense time and I am proud of what I was able to achieve and the works that I made. I’m also happy with the new friends that I met at the studio and the inspiration they gave me.
