Amy Burgess Alchemy

Alchemy is an ancient practice where it was believed that base metals could be transformed into gold. This is recreated through my work using a base material of clay that was moulded to create immaculate burnished surfaces that were then patterned through black, smoke and saggar firing. Various materials – such as rope soaked in salt, grass, copper and seaweed – were fired with the pots to create unique and unpredictable patterns. The surface was then highlighted with the symbolic gold which is featured in the centre of each piece, completing the transformation from the base clay to a precious artwork.