RWA Academician Candidates’ Exhibition/So Much to Long For

During the Covid-19 pandemic I was selected for the shortlist of Royal West of England (RWA) Academician Candidates to exhibit recent work alongside their Annual Open Exhibition (17 April - 9 May 2021).

The three pieces presented in this show were created during the pandemic and developed through writing about my practice in my research blog. The intention is to expand my understanding of ceramics and my relationship with clay through the blog and for that to feed back into and inform what I make.

Anyware

This sculptural installation of a modular stack of five robust pots explores purpose, function and limitation. It follows my continuing interest in the potential of ceramics, the idea of what can be held, how the pots could be used, alongside ideas around connection and latent possibility.

The pots rest on top of each other - close, touching, grounded. Neon mountain rope is tethered to the wall with a quick-release carabiner, and connects to the pots by the handles, securing them, and suggesting something other than the domestic role of ceramics. The glazes were applied by brush, inspired by Japanese ceramics, and tilt towards landscapes – the pots moving from stormy to clearer skies.

The combination of hand-thrown ceramics with painted glaze alongside high-performance materials implies the possibility of a new function, maybe even an adventure? This hybrid design looks ready to go. Are you?  Which pot, which landscape suits your mindscape today? Where are we going?

Anyware. Any time. Any place. Any how.

Another Sense of Holding

Adapted from the traditional shape of a French Onion soup tureen with brush stroke glazing, this pot continues the exploration of connection, function and purpose, particularly through the addition of specific elements.

The creation of one continuous handle around the pot (instead of two separate ones) suggests an open invitation for many hands to hold, where no one is left out. The neon gasket raises questions about what else is possible for this pot: the invitation for something else to be added, to be held, to be touched; the suggestion that there is something more to this…?

What is its purpose?

 Primarily Jars

The bright orange glaze and rubber strapping gives a contemporary feel to this familiar and ancient vessel form used in food preservation. Connecting the domestic and the art world, these jars were made in the tradition of the classic brown preserving jars, but here with an added twist. Of lime, that is.

Over the course of the exhibition the jars will be on display and fermenting limes to make lime pickle (which will be ready by the end of the exhibition). New possibilities abound: the gallery space has gained another function; the artist has expanded their production; the art work can be consumed by the viewer. What else is possible?