THE works of ceramicists Ian Calder and David Walters and two artists of the newer generation, Kim Bagley and Louise Jennings, are on display at the Artisan Gallery, Florida Road.
What’s impressive is that Bagley, who studied fine arts at UKZN in Pietermaritzburg and then continued to study in the UK at UCA Farnham under Professor Magdalene Odundo, obtained a PhD in ceramics earlier this year.
The Artisan Gallery notes that although the works are strongly individual, the influences and how they have developed are fascinating.
In an interview with Tonight, Cape Town-based Walters shares his journey through art: “In 1969, I worked with an English potter who was living in Muldersdrift, South Africa, called Tim Morris. He inspired me with his enthusiasm and work rate. I had studied art in matric at Hilton College, and had enrolled to do architecture at UKZN back in 1970, but working with clay is completely addictive, and took my breath away.”
On his work featured in the exhibition, he says he uses high-fired porcelain: “It’s such an amazing, strong, white and forgiving material, very expensive to buy, as it is man-made clay, to an extent. I fire my work in a large gas-fired kiln and just about everything that I make is thrown on the potter’s wheel. I enjoy that challenge and I am good at it – modest too. The ‘heads’ that I exhibited are a little tongue in cheek.
“I find it interesting how some people ‘read’ them at once, while others never ‘see’ the head or face at all. They have a historical precedent – I think that somebody made a similar ‘bust’ of the dictator Mussolini after World War II – perhaps I will make some of our politicians if they don’t start to behave.”
Walters reveals where his ideas come from: “I need several lifetimes to get done what I want to get done. Ideas are the easy part, it’s the time and energy to get on, and that’s the challenge. I live next door to the dominee in the middle of Franschhoek, and he says that I should apply for a couple more lifetimes. I am a prolific maker and Imake mostly functional ceramics, objects that are beautiful and useful, that people can engage with and use, to get pleasure from. I see this as a link between people and art, between me and my clients. I spend much of my time making bespoke dinnerware for chef clients as well as private people who enjoy presenting their food to best effect – a very personal engagement.”
l The exhibition runs at the Artisan Gallery. Call Ingrid at 031 312 4364.