Montreal ceramicist Laurent Craste‘s series “Abuse” is funny and kind of violent at the same time. It’s like what would have happened if Mrs. Potts and Lumiere were in Fight Club. But as bizarre as that sounds, it’s still very entertaining work. I read the artist’s statement, and it was immediately clear that I utterly missed the point. (Not an uncommon occurrence.)

“The series of distorted vases actualizes rage [and] updates the strain inherent in any production requiring great skill: the portion of rejects brought to their ultimate point. A deliberately caused “accident” changes the appearance of the vases: soiled, covered with graffiti, trampled, cracked, nailed to the wall, subjected to the worst treatment, yet remaining recognizable. This violence is specifically that of the creator, since the absolute negation of the piece, smashing it to pieces, has not been “implemented”. –Project Abuse: Laurent.Craste.com

(shrug) Okay. I know when I’m beat. All I know is they’re really fun to look at!

All photos and videos property of Laurent Craste.

Fun, right? His other major series, “Subversion,” is also really worth a look. In that series, Craste creates perfect, traditional ceramic forms, but paints them with disturbing, dark images that alter the whole piece.

In addition to his quirky ceramic sculptures, Craste creates videos which he projects onto his ceramics and also interactive sculptural works using ceramics, movable lights, and projection. While I’m sure the videos are meant to be serious as well, they only put me further in mind of Beauty and the Beast. What is it Dorothy Parker said?