Tattooed Torsoes

Over recent years the words "nolite te bastardes carborundorum" have crept into my work, more recently in the form of a tattoo. The words refer to a note of hope and solidarity found by Offred in the wardrobe of her room. This reference is found in A Handmaid's Tale written by Margaret Atwood. These words are apparently a schoolboy bastardisation of latin and roughly mean "don't let the bastards get you down". coil built torso vases from stoneware clay with carved tattoos and glaze finishes. cone 7 electric. dimensions h220-260 w110-200 d70

coil built forms from stoneware clays with slip, sgraffito and glaze finishes. cone 7 electric. smaller form h220 w220 d70, larger form h250 w250 d 60

detail of tattoo