Summary of " The Ancient Greece-Inspired Artist Breathing New Life into Found Ceramics"
After researching Ancient Greek Ceramics last week, I began to look into modern ceramicists that use ancient techniques. I stumbled upon this incredibly unique artist that takes found Greek vases and adds her own special touch to them. This artist is Clementine Keith-Roach. She finds Greek vases that have curves that resemble the female body and attaches breasts and nipples to the work (par.1). Roach states that she began , "thinking about the surface of the pot as skin and wanting to see what happened when I actually extended that surface into a more bodily, real shape”(par.1). This is thought of as a study of the human body (par.2). She leaves the pot completely untouched, except for the bust that she adds. This is very interesting because it allows the viewer to see parts of the ancient vessel in its true form, with bits of paint still attached. The body of the vase resembles a torso (par.2).
Hutton states in her article that these vases are "A reimagining of an ancient form (the Cycladic pieces encountered in Athens date back more than 2,000 years), these tactile, sensuous vases are both a celebration of and a means of connecting with the female form, and simultaneously of breathing new life into storied domestic objects" (par.2). Roach spoke of her interest in amphora pots by saying, "I was particularly attracted to the ceramics and the homeware over everything else. It felt like those things had a sort of modesty to them, but also were incredibly powerful, as their function was so clear and connected you to their past owners, but also they had these kind of ritualistic qualities to them" (par.3). She wanted to work with forms that also had a function.
To create the breasts on the figures, she did casting of her own breasts as well as the breasts of her friends or inspirational figures (par.7). She was also pregnant when she began this process, so she spoke of being able to watch and participate in the changing of her body (par.6). She would attach the breasts to the pot and paint them so they would blend into the surface (par.8). I find this incredibly interesting and unique. The forms are very curvilinear, it is easy to connect the shape to the human body. I found the connection of a form with function to the human body very intriguing. It is also interesting to see artifacts from 2,000 years ago transformed in a way that empowers women.
Images:
References:
https://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/10689/the-ancient-greece-inspired-artist-breathing-new-life-into-found-ceramics
Nice find! We have always ascribed human anatomy descriptions to vessels... there is the foot, belly, shoulder, neck, etc. Glazes are clothing, unglazed pots are naked.
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