01.11.21
During reading week I visited Whitchapel Gallery in London and there was an exhibition of the works of Theaster Gates called 'A Clay Sermon' and the work really inspired me. His forms, scale, texture and context were so interesting to engage with and have opened up new ideas and reference points for my vessel and other ceramic work. In particualr I was very inspired by the piece 'Afro-Ikebana' (2019) as it uses this idea of accumilation and the accumilation being the artwork which is something I'm interested in. As for my own work I have been waiting on ceramics to be fired as well as waiting for dyes to arrive so I can begin work on my dyed fabric/sewn works.
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| Theaster gates Afro-Ikebana 2019 |
Theaster Gates
Gates' practice includes sculpture, installation, performance and
urban interventions that aim to bridge the gap between art and life.
Gates works as an artist, curator, urbanist and facilitator and his
projects attempt to instigate the creation of cultural communities by
acting as catalysts for social engagement that leads to political and
spatial change.Gates has described his working method as
‘critique through collaboration’ – often with architects, researchers
and performers – to create works that stretch the idea of what we
usually understand visual-based practices to be. For his exhibition at
Milwaukee Art Museum exhibition in 2010, for example, Gates invited a
250 strong gospel choir into the galleries to sing songs adapted from
the inscriptions on pots by the famous 19th century slave and potter 'Dave Drake'.
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| Theaster Gates Studio |