8 July – 24 September 2023

Peter Bodenham / Miche Follano / Carolyn Genders / Sarah Jenkins / Hilary Mayo / Barry Stedman / Emily Stubbs / Craig Underhill / Rachel Wood

Surface when it is a clay body can be many things; earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, ball clay, china clay; then there are slips, oxides, glazes, decals, textures…the list is long. The surface of a ceramic object can convey many different messages and thus induce varying responses from us as the viewer. Unlike a painting it is usually three dimensional in form and can include deep mark making. As with sculpture, each turn reveals a different perspective that can be complex and alluring.

However, surface can also employ the peace and calm of a minimal approach, a questioning examination of textural glaze, or the arresting of senses and joy in an exuberant explosion of colour. Surfaces can consume and retain a colour through their porosity, and conversely let them shine in a glass-like glaze. There are many ways for a potter or ceramist to express their thoughts and inspirations.

In this exhibition we see the work of nine ceramicists for whom the surface becomes in effect their canvas. In most, but not all cases, a three-dimensional form that combines their mastery of making, and subsequent glazing and decoration to stunning decorative effect. There is something about the way things work on the surface of ceramic that it somehow doesn’t on a canvas. There is a directness and life to the decoration that has nuances hard to achieve on a more traditional painters’ surface. Some of the artist-makers here also use a two-dimensional surface to explore their ideas, and examples can be seen alongside their ceramic work – it’s a fascinating juxtaposition.

In essence Surface Matters explores a painterly approach to decorating a ceramic form; essentially using, mainly but not exclusively, a vessel as a three-dimensional canvas. Unlike a painting the imagery flows around the piece and reconnects with itself in a harmonious whole.

Gregory Parsons, Curator

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8 Gorffennaf – 24 Medi 2023

Peter Bodenham / Miche Follano / Carolyn Genders / Sarah Jenkins / Hilary Mayo / Barry Stedman / Emily Stubbs / Craig Underhill / Rachel Wood

Gall arwyneb fod yn nifer o bethau pan fo’n gorff o glai; priddwaith, crochenwaith caled, porslen, clai pêl, caolin; yna mae’r slipiau, ocsidau, decalau a gweadeddau… mae’r rhestr yn hir. Mae arwyneb gwrthrych cerameg yn gallu cyfleu llawer o negeseuon gwahanol ac felly’n ennyn ymatebion amrywiol gennym ni’r gwylwyr. Yn wahanol i baentiad, fel rheol mae ar ffurf tri dimensiwn ac yn gallu cynnwys marciau dwfn. Fel cerflunwaith, mae pob troad yn datgelu golwg wahanol sy’n gallu bod yn gymhleth ac yn ddeniadol.

Fodd bynnag, gall yr arwyneb ddefnyddio’r heddwch a’r llonyddwch o’r ymdriniaeth leiaf, archwiliad ymholgar o wydredd gweadol neu drawiad i’r synhwyrau a’r llawenydd o ffrwydrad afieithus o liw. Mae arwynebau’n gallu llyncu a dal lliw drwy eu mandylledd, ac i’r gwrthwyneb, eu caniatáu i ddisgleirio fel gwydr. Mae gan grochenydd neu artist cerameg nifer o ffyrdd i fynegi ei feddyliau a’r hyn sy’n ei ysbrydoli.

Yn yr arddangosfa hon gwelwn waith gan naw artist cerameg ac i bob pwrpas yr arwyneb yw ei canfas. Yn y rhan helaeth o achosion mae gwaith ar ffurf tri dimensiwn sy’n cyfuno meistrolaeth eu creu a’r gwydro a’r addurno a ddaw wedyn yn arwain at effaith addurnol trawiadol. Mae rhywbeth ynglŷn â’r ffordd mae pethau’n gweithio ar wyneb darn cerameg nad yw’n effeithiol ar ganfas rhywsut. Mae uniongyrchedd a bywyd i’r addurn ac mae ganddo gyffyrddiadau sy’n anodd eu cyflawni ar arwyneb mwy traddodiadol y paentiwr. Yma mae rhai o’r artistiaid-gwneuthurwyr hefyd yn defnyddio arwyneb dau ddimensiwn er mwyn archwilio’u syniadau ac mae modd gweld enghreifftiau ochr yn ochr â’u gwaith cerameg – mae’n gyfosodiad difyr.

Yn ei hanfod mae Nodweddion Arwynebedd yn archwilio ymdriniaeth arluniol i addurno ffurf cerameg gan ddefnyddio’n bennaf llestr yn ganfas tri dimensiwn, ond nid hynny’n unig. Yn wahanol i baentiad mae’r ddelweddaeth yn llifo o amgylch y darn ac yn ailgysylltu â’i hunan mewn cyfanwaith cydnaws.

Gregory Parsons, Curadur

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