New challenge                                                                                                                            

Here & Now 14 has ended and Shape of Thought has been taken apart to transport back to the studio.

For some time now I have been pondering how to improve the design, and the obvious conclusion is to replace the brackets with the sturdier, welded construction.

I have even done a welding for sculptors workshop in anticipation of the next challenge.

The next sculpture will be based on the geodesic dome again...I feel that I have just started exploring the structure and I still have a long way to go. Well, at least this time the starting point is a bit further down the path, in comparison to the Shape of Thought. 

I need to begin by considering the welded frame first, as that will influence the shape of ceramic triangles.

First, let's look at the geodesic sphere again:

What is not immediately obvious is the angle between the 2 triangles, and that angle complicates my construction. It is a bit clearer on those drawings:

If I decided to make a typical geodesic dome framework (which follows the edge of the triangle lines), using the metal flats instead of rods so that I can attach ceramic pieces to them, I would have to weld ( or bend) each flat to have the angle shown on the lower drawing (left).

Bending would be impossible on the lengths I require, and welding impractical.

On the Shape of thought, if you remember, I have used brackets instead. It looked good, but did not provide any structural strength:

This time, the idea is to use steel flats instead of brackets, welded together into some sort of a net, to which I will be able to bolt ceramic pieces in similar fashion to the work on the photo.

Instead of scanning pages and pages of sketches to illustrate the thinking process, I will present you with the 3 finalists:

 Let's see what they look like connected together. Black lines represent steel flats:

Which one is the best for my purpose?

Architecture of Time                                                                                                                             

Architecture of Time is a direct response to the theme duality. It explores the notion of duality as defining outermost aspects of the same reality, not in order to divide, but to understand its parameters and interconnections. It plays with common symbols of duality (positive and negative space, light and shadow) to create narrative.

“How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also if I am to be whole”

― C.G. Jung

Making process:

You can see Architecture of Time among other artworks by SOUP responding to the theme of duality. I hope to see you there:

The Art and Science of Ceramics                                                              

When: Friday 12 September 2014, 3 - 5pm
Venue: Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, The University of Western Australia
Attend: FREE. RSVP essential. Register online

Join us for a discussion between Associate Professor Andrew Rate from the School of Earth and Environment and ceramic artists Andrea Vinkovic and Stephanie Hammill.

The use of clay as both artistic medium and source of scientific enquiry will form the basis of this discussion. Andrew Rate has conducted the specific analytical application of Powder X-ray Diffraction on selected clay and glaze materials used by exhibiting artists. Some of this has been collected from diverse areas of the state.

The results are to be revealed in conversation with the artists who offer their own perspectives in relation to their artistic practice.

This FREE symposium is presented by The School of Earth and Environment - Campus Partner for HERE&NOW14.

And for those who are too far away to see the exhibition, here is a selection of images.

Enjoy!

HERE&NOW14 exhibition, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery 2014, Photography: Lyle Branson:

It has been an amazing month                                                                                                                                             

As Ted Snell said at the opening of HERE & NOW 14 at Lawrence Wilson Gallery, this is the most significant ceramic exhibition in WA in a decade. 

I was hoping to show you lots of images, but unfortunately, photography was not allowed at the opening. Hopefully, the gallery will grant me access to their photos, but I guess I have to be patient about it.

We managed to take a few shots before we knew we shouldn't J

The West Australian article:

I love the image of Warrick's work. You would not think that it's a gallery shot. And that is, in my view, why this exhibition is so significant., beautiful and feels just right: there are no white plinths. ( Well, hardly any white plinths). It is  not so much an exhibition as an experience.

The only time I have encountered such an experience previously was in Korea at Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale in 2009. I hoped to find web site or online images to illustrate what I'm talking about, but this is the only relevant link I could find ( and it has a strong focus on tableware, while I wanted to show you the way the contemporary ceramic is displayed). Have a look, it takes only 6 minutes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CApU68a4aig

Segue 

http://creativemornings.com/cities/per

is where you can find my recent talk: Failure: Playing with Fire.

Preparing for the talk came at precarious time just before assembling Shape of Thought at Lawrence Wilson Gallery. I was hoping that it was not going to be a prediction of the things to come.

Interestingly, although the work was ready with plenty of time to spare, and everything was going well, I still felt very very fragile not only before the sculpture was finally put together, but for weeks afterwards. I know that it is not a unique feeling ( actually it is quite common and something I warn my students, first time exhibitors, about).

 I know that it sounds silly, but I expected the call from the gallery telling me that the piece has collapsed, that it is not good enough, to please come and take it away.

Those feelings are not easy to explain or to talk about. I can't help but to think of Robin Williams and the question lots of people ask: "How can somebody so successful feel so desperate?"

Is it the same something that defines us as artists?

     

Exhibition  set up                                                                                                                                             

I have spent two interesting and intense days in Lawrence Wilson Gallery connecting the sculpture together, and sieving almost 0.5 m³ of kiln fired sand.

Everybody's work looks amazing and it was a rare privilege to watch it all installed and brought to life. 

If you are in Perth, come and see it, it is absolutely inspirational. It will be a pivotal Ceramic exhibition for WA. Opening is on Friday 25th July ( Tomorrow!!) 2014.

Shape of thought looks good in its new surroundings. I'm not going to show it to you and spoil the surprise, but I can't resist a l teaser:

Exhibition                                                                                                                                               

Shape of thought will be exhibited in Lawrence Wilson Gallery, in the HERE&NOW14 exhibition

26 July - 27 September 2014

HERE&NOW14 presents an exciting exhibition of contemporary ceramic work from both emerging and established Western Australian artists.

The exhibition encompasses a variety of materials and techniques ranging from fine porcelain forms and rustic stoneware installations to large-scale sculptural work. Artists working in clay, including Greg Crowe, Pippin Drysdale, Sandra Black, Ian Dowling, Graham Hay, Andrew Nicholls, Warrick Palmateer, Bevan Thompson, Andrea Vinkovic and Stephanie Hammill, have been challenged to produce new work, extending their artistic practice by experimenting with both technical and conceptual approaches.

Objects and installation-based work will be complimented by innovative audio-visual projection works by Jacob Ogden Smith and Luke Aleksandrow, exploring themes surrounding ceramic practice.

I hope to see you there.

Lawrence Wilson Gallery is also organizing public programs for HERE&NOW14 with the Campus partner Earth Sciences and asked me to provide samples of clay and glazes for analysis.

This is soo very exciting!!

Shape of Thought
                                                         

It grew a little bit more, but this is as far as I dare to go:

Please excuse "doctored" background of the image; I did not want messy studio backdrop distracting the view.

So instead of a sphere, I will be exhibiting 3 fragments.

The work still fits its original title: The Shape of Thought

Come to think of it, it probably fits it better than the planed sphere. Thoughts evolve, connect, disconnect and reconnect...

This is the artist statement accompanying the work:

I am inspired by fragility, organic beauty and delicate balance of natural environment, interested in exploring personal and archetypal symbolism of visual language, and intrigued by parallels with cultural environment.

I work with clay. I love the feel, the smell, and the idea of using a natural, earthy, ancient material to explore and express thoughts.

Shape of Thought is inspired by microscopic images of pollens, planktons and molecules and geodesic sphere structure popularized by architect, philosopher and futurist Buckminster Fuller.

I am intrigued by the fact that it is also a shape of Clathrin which plays a major role in the formation of neurotransmitters in our brain.

Although, now it is not the shape of Clathrin...