Nadav
Drukker

Dr. Nadav Drukker is a ceramic artist bringing modern science to this ancient art form. Drukker grew up in Jerusalem, studied in the US and lived in Copenhagen and Berlin before settling in London. He studied ceramics in parallel to completing his PhD in theoretical physics and has been developing his art for over fifteen years. He has recently established his own studio and has been able to devote more of his time to ceramics. Drukker influences include ancient ceramics, as Israel is steeped in archeology, and his exposure to Japanese art, via his grandfather, who was a major collector and dealer and who established the Tikotin museum of Japanese art in HaifaDr. Drukker is a Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) in Theoretical Physics in the Mathematics Department of King’s College London, specializing in string theory. His most recent creations combine these two facets of his life into a new series of ceramic vessels, reflect- ing his scientific research in clay. The finished pieces follow the research process of a theorist, from basic assumptions and conjectures via calculations to final results or formulas. The sub- mitted piece “index-9”, is part of a series of 24 vessels devoted to a research project conducted in collaboration with two PhD students and published in http://arxiv.org/abs/1507.08659  (and also in JHEP11(2015)210) applying different decorating techniques mirroring the degree of refinement of the research.Early ideas and drafts, some of them crude or possibly ultimately false, are depicted on rugged pots with rough inscriptions, highlighted or possibly obscured by oxides and uneven application of glaze, like “Defect-3”.Later incarnations of the ideas, better formed, more polished, and hopefully more ac- curate, are depicted in finer ceramics. Using higher quality clay; smoother and whiter, ul- timately porcelain, with more delicate decorating techniques and finer application of glaze, including gold and platinum lustres, like “Cusp-21”.“The process of representing my research in clay requires a new examination of the project and can lead to further scientific progress. Some of the formulas on my vessels are copied from my notes, drafts and the final paper, but others are calculated specifically for the ceramic pieces.”Drukker has so far created eight series of works representing different research projects. For each project a particular shape encapsulating some aspect of the science is chosen. A variety of decorating techniques are then applied to the pots to highlight parts of the calculation. There are between 10 and 25 pieces in each series.Dr. Drukker’s academic career took him to many countries. He studied and practiced ceramics at varied locations until settling down in London and establishing his studio in Brixton.Main academic milestones:1991-1994: BSc in Maths and Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem1994-2000: PhD in Physics, Princeton University1997-2000: Visiting PhD student, University of California, Santa Barbara 2000-2001: Post-doc University of Southern California2001-2003: Post-doc, Weizmann Institute, Israel.2003-2006: Post-doc, University of Copenhagen.2006-2010: Post-doc, Humboldt University, Berlin.2010-2011: Research fellow, Imperial College London2011-2015: Research fellow and Lecturer, King’s College London 2015-: Reader in Theoretical Physics, King’s College LondonCeramics training:1999-2000: Ceramics course, University of California, Santa Barbara 2000-2001: Ceramics course, Monrovia Community Adult School2001-2003: Apprenticeship with Doron Yacobi, Petach Tikvah, IsraelSolo Exhibitions:2017: “Quantum Ceramics”, Knight-Webb Gallery, London2008: “Drukker, Kunstto ̈pferei”, Atelier Thoma ̈, Berlin2005: “Nadav Drukker: Pottery”, Niels Bohr Institute, CopenhagenGroup Exhibitions and Fairs:2018: “Small world”, Knight-Webb Gallery, London           “Visions of Science”, The Edge, University of Bath           “ING Discerning Eye”, Mall Galleries, London2017: Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London           “Phoenix”, Stash Gallery, London          Cosmoscow, Moscow          Volta 13, Basel          London Potters Exhibition, Morley Gallery, London 2016: London Potters Exhibition, Morley Gallery, London 2015: London Potters Exhibition, Morley Gallery, London 2014: London Potters Exhibition, Morley Gallery, London          The Doghouse Kennington, London