10 SONGS… (VOL. 13) BY ELISE GETTLIFFE
“10 songs for entering and exiting the studio”
Elise Gettliffe’s background in fashion and costume design has taken her across Europe and eventually to Japan, where she worked as a costume designer for Dairakudakan, the dance company led by Akaji Maro. It was there, during her time off, that she nurtured a strong interest in pottery and ceramics.
By merging elements from her personal history, creative background, and the traditional sensibilities inherent to Japanese pottery, Elise creates ceramics that prioritise function over perfection, yet every detail is carefully considered.
During the pandemic, she moved to France to be closer to her family. With plenty of time on her hands, she ended up renovating a little countryside fixer-upper with the same attention to detail she brings to her work. Her appreciation for natural materials and understanding of their role in her new space led to the establishment of Atelier 14 — her ceramic studio — right at the heart of her new home.
With an unashamed love for the slower-paced southern lifestyle, her days are still spent working from sun to sun. The process of throwing on the wheel is only interrupted by a nourishing bowl of rice and vegetables, followed by a midday nap, and moments spent petting her cats.
“Where is the door?” could serve as a metaphor for Elise’s prolonged stints at her studio, where she’ll remain for months on end. This solitary existence allows for razor-sharp focus on her craft. Occasionally, she’ll quench her thirst for social interaction and culture through travel.
Her playlist is ultimately a musical rendition of a day at her studio. Enter and exit by pressing play…
© Elise Gettliffe
Loris Gréaud, Thomas Roussel - Once Upon A Door…
Annea Lockwood - Tiger Balm (excerpt)
Barker - Die-Hards Of The Darwinian Order
We Will Fail - No Eye To Follow
Clogs - Pencil Stick
Kae Tempest, Grian Chatten - I Saw Light
070 Shake - Flight319
SAULT - June Child
Future Islands - Little Dreamer
The Caretaker - A6 - Things that are beautiful and transient