Eleanor Herbosch

That is the beauty of an art so seemingly innocent, but so deliberate at the same time. An art that is based on texture, on earth, on purity and on intuitiveness. Every piece aims to capture the essence of realistic earth textures through a combination of patterns, surfaces and illumination. Her work is the translation of the creative partnership between manipulation and materiality, working together to express the qualities of the chosen materials. And what are these chosen materials? Earth.

Through ceramics and painting, the British-born Belgian artist expresses the potential of natural materials with the intent of enhancing their intrinsic qualities. Harmony comes from reproducing the earthy nature, and clay is the material that allows it: “Working with clay feels like going back to basics, it enables me to focus on replicating the characteristics of the earth”, describes Eleanor. Clay is one of humans’ original artistic mediums, it embodies survival, resistance and usefulness. Extrapolated from its original essence, applied into an artistic method, clay is the testament to enduring relevance. A material that initially was mere mass, is turned in Eleanor’s work into an enhanced visual experience where texture is the main character.  

Texture is flat and voluminous, rough and gentle, sharp and smooth. Texture is clay, and lack thereof. “I intentionally refrain from creating ink gestures on certain areas of the background, ensuring that some parts solely feature the natural soil”, says the 25-year-old artist. “There are moments of observation left untouched but a layer of natural soil, showing off its unique pigments”, she continues. In an almost unnoticeable way, Eleanor guides the observer: “Now focusing on details of the painting that are purely soil you are simultaneously focusing on negative space, which encourages you to pause, appreciate and absorb the overall design without overwhelming visual stimuli”. 

And just like that, she achieves her goal: to create an experience that underlines the delicate interaction between inked elements and natural soil. She describes it: “You must appreciate the silence and emptiness to appreciate the expressive qualities of the work”. The result is a feeling of tranquility derived from raw manipulation. The tactile engagement with the material is evident, and the soil is exposed and unearthed. Manipulation and materiality. Expressing the inner qualities of the natural materials by directing them. 

When asked how she got started into combining materials, her answer is straightforward: “The introduction of soil into my paintings happened around the same time I started learning more about clay”. “My attraction to a tactile method of working led me to explore clay as a medium”, fascinated by varied textures and the subtle interplay of light and shadow on different surfaces. As a way of maintaining her identifying essence as a textural artist, Eleanor chose to not study painting: “I valued my child-like approach to my craft, preserving the purity of my intuitive creations without other influence”. 

Understanding her passion and the value of her distinctive artistic expression, Eleanor chose to embrace the pureness of it. A childish-like approach that has always been present, but whose results have evolved. Looking back at 2016, where the artist’s first artworks were born, she sees a common denominator: “I believe that my artistic approach remains just as playful in its processes, but there has been a refinement in the sense that I am honing the materials I utilize, gaining a deeper understanding of their nuances”. 

Her aim to bring the essence of the outdoors inside is obvious. Nonetheless, she is now ready to explore other ways to do so, by delving deeper into specific facets of her work. “For instance, I am interested in incorporating calligraphic meaning into my ink gestures, overlaying it with the expressive movement it conveys”. Her signature is texture and her artistic expression comes alive through tact. Materiality and manipulation are her partners and the feeling is tranquility. However, “having focused on texture and the spontaneity of my ink gestures, I’m now prepared to bring another layer of meaning into my work”. An earthy harmony where clay and paint will meet a new companion.