maarten de ceulaer: balloon bowls

maarten de ceulaer, balloon bowls edition 2, #32 all images courtesy of victor hunt

‘balloon bowls’ by belgian designer maarten de ceulaer is a series of vessels created from casting mass-colored, synthetic plaster into a balloon, after which, a second balloon is inserted and inflated. the balloons act as flexible moulds, resulting in a collection of bowls, each featuring their own unique shape. once the plaster has hardened, the balloons are removed revealing a bowl form. with each, the colorants also appear differently every time, resulting in uncontrolled color patterns as a result.  the bowls are finished with a special coating which reinforces the plaster, making it waterproof and usable.

phase 1: preparing the plaster

on show during milan design week 2011, the project is an experimental review of a traditional ceramic practice. instead of using porcelain or clay, it takes plaster as an end product material, rather than as something to make moulds with. the result is always unknown, and never turns out the way you imagine it to, the same technique being used to produce individual items repeatedly.

phase 2: filling the balloons with plaster, and inserting a second balloon within to form the inner vessel

phase 3 and 4: placing the balloons and drying the plaster

the plaster filled balloons are placed in various positions: hung the ceiling, left to rest on a slanted board, compressed by heavier items etc., to create the range of uniquely shaped bowl.

phase 5: breaking the balloons once the plaster is dry, the balloons are popped and removed from the end form

phase 6: drying the bowls

phase 7: breaking the thinnest edges and finishing off the bowls with a special coating that reinforces the plaster, making it waterproof and usable

Maarten De Ceulaer, balloon bowls from Victor Hunt on Vimeo.

maarten de ceulaer, balloon bowls edition 2, #41

maarten de ceulaer, balloon bowls edition 2, #66

maarten de ceulaer, balloon bowls edition 2, #4

maarten de ceulaer, balloon bowls edition 2, #24

maarten de ceulaer, balloon bowls edition 2, #78

maarten de ceulaer, balloon bowls edition 2, #80