Leah Hinks (1964 − )

Leah Hinks studied ceramics at South Glamorgan College of Higher Education in Cardiff. The works in the Collection were made whilst she was living in South West Wales at a time when she was, by her own admission, a fanatical Scuba diver. Her many dives inspired her work: the shapes and lustres of ripples of sand, mermaid's purses, worm casts and fish eyes. The works in the collection are made from porcelain, a material the artist described as having a lot of character. "I like it because it's hard, translucent and precious like a jewel. You can get wonderful effects but at the same time it sets limits. I need that to keep my imagination from running away from me. Every piece needs to be fired three times and every firing might be a disaster. I use lustre very sparingly, not just because it's ruinously expensive, but so as to keep it precious and not devalue it. To me the lustering is like alchemy, bringing the work out of the kiln gleaming with gold, or platinum. Or mother of pearl is real magic."

All that glisters: New Jewellery in Britain, The British Council 1992

Glossary (2)

  • Ceramics

    Clay based products produced from non-metallic material and fired at high temperature. The term covers all objects made of fired clay, including earthenware, porcelain, stoneware and terra cotta.

  • Porcelain

    One of the three major types of pottery, the others being stoneware and earthenware. Porcelain is fired in the region of 1300ºC to produce a white vitrified and translucent body.

Past exhibitions

ALL THAT GLISTERS ...

  • 1997
    • Sierra Leone, Freetown, British Council Office - Freetown
  • 1996
    • Greece, Thessaloniki, British Council Office - Thessaloniki
    • Croatia, Split, Dioclesian Palace
    • Croatia, Dubrovnik, Knezev Dvor
    • Croatia, Zagreb, Gallery Uluphu
    • Slovenia, Ljubljana, Moderna Galerija
    • Romania, Bucharest, British Council Office - Bucharest
  • 1995
    • Romania, Sibiu, Museum Brukenthal
  • 1994
    • Bahrain, Manama, National Museum
    • Thailand, Bangkok, British Council Office - Bangkok
    • Philippines, Manila, Metropolitan Museum
© 2011 British Council

The United Kingdom`s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland).

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