Contemporary Ceramics is excited to present New Members of the Craft Potters Association. As part of this group exhibition, we delve into the artists’ creative process and learn more about how they work. The exhibition runs from the 5th – 28th February 2026.
Erum Aamir
The Exhibition
Contemporary Ceramics: How has your work grown or changed for this exhibition? What kind of journey do you hope to take your audience on?
Erum Aamir: I hope the exhibition offers the audience a slow, contemplative experience, inviting them to pause and look closely, and to move gently from the familiar language of plants into a quieter, magnified realm where growth feels intimate and quietly otherworldly.
On the Intersection of Science and Imagination
Contemporary Ceramics: Your work is inspired by microscopic plant studies. How do you balance scientific accuracy with your own imaginative interpretation when creating these sculptures?
Erum Aamir: While my work is rooted in microscopic plant studies, I do not aim for scientific accuracy in a literal sense. Instead, I use scientific observation as a point of departure. Once I begin making, imagination inevitably weaves itself into what I have seen. The balance lies in staying faithful to the essence of natural structures while allowing them to drift into imagined forms that feel plausible yet poetic.
On Material and Technique
Contemporary Ceramics: You work with very thin porcelain layers and minimal tools to build up your sculptures. How does this tactile, hands-on approach influence the sense of fragility and movement in your pieces?
Erum Aamir: Working with very thin porcelain and minimal tools creates a direct dialogue between my hands and the material. Porcelain’s fragility demands slowness and care, which naturally introduces movement and tension into the forms. The material records every touch, and this sensitivity allows the work to feel light, vulnerable, and in a constant state of becoming.
On The Creative Process
Contemporary Ceramics: Repetition and layering play a key role in your work, mimicking natural growth patterns. How does this meditative, rhythmic process affect your experience of making and the final form of the sculpture?
Erum Aamir: Repetition and layering are central to my practice. The rhythmic act of forming similar elements becomes meditative, allowing me to think through making rather than planning in advance. This process mirrors natural growth patterns and results in forms that feel organic, accumulated, and quietly alive.
On Growth and Development
Contemporary Ceramics: How has your practice changed over time? What has been a seminal and/or inspirational moment?
Erum Aamir: Over time, my practice has become more intuitive and confident in embracing uncertainty. A seminal moment was gaining access to the historic botanical slides at Manchester Museum’s Herbarium, which deepened my engagement with microscopic imagery. That experience reaffirmed my desire to work at the intersection of science, material, and imagination.
