Christie Brown - recent sculpture

Solo show which aimed to explore ideas about the relationship between ceramic material and myths of creation by making a substantial group of figurative work based on fabled characters such as Prometheus and the Golem. The research project explored connections between material and concept through th...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Brown, C.
Format: Other/Unknown Material
Language:unknown
Published: 2001
Subjects:
Online Access:https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9408z/christie-brown-recent-sculpture
Description
Summary:Solo show which aimed to explore ideas about the relationship between ceramic material and myths of creation by making a substantial group of figurative work based on fabled characters such as Prometheus and the Golem. The research project explored connections between material and concept through the use of archaic narratives from mythology. It established the importance of historic continuity as a major element in Brown’s practice, through stylistic references to archaeology and archaic artefacts. The artefacts offer a contribution to the figurative language of ceramics and to the dialogue within the discipline about the relevance of material based practice in contemporary visual culture. Brown researched creation narratives and myths and made several drawings from life to develop the models for the ceramic figures’ moulds. These were cast from stoneware and brick clay and assembled in sections. Pieces include: Prometheus, Kalos Thanatos, Minerva’s Helpers 1&2 , Portrait of the Golem, Portrait of Prometheus, Heads from The Glyptotek, Ex Votos for a Broken Heart. Perimeter Gallery is well established as a gallery with a serious interest in ceramics as contemporary sculpture, showing work by Antony Caro and Peter Volkous amongst others. The exhibition, supported by the British Council, gave Brown an opportunity to establish her contribution to this context internationally. A major work from the exhibition, The Delphic Twins, was acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts in Racine, Illinois. The themes were explored further in group exhibitions both in the UK and abroad including British Studio Ceramics at the Philadelphia Clay Studio; Figurative Ceramics curated by Michael Flynn at the Crafts Council in the V&A, accompanying the publication of Flynn’s book; and Sterling Stuff, a group show originating at Gallery Pangolin, which toured both to Iceland and to the Friends Room at the Royal Academy and included major artists such as Antony Gormley, Nicola Hicks and Damien Hirst.