Hon's auction Encounter - Ceramics SA AGM Feb 2011.

Encounter. (Feb.09) 170 x 140 x 50 mm. Hand built porcelain piece

The 7^th of January was the birthday of this blog, yes it is two years old. To celebrate the occasion, I am donating one of my pieces to be auctioned at the 2011, AGM of Ceramics SA � watch the media for details. Why this piece you may ask. The work titled, Encounter, came out of the kiln two years ago, born on the day of the AGM of Ceramics SA in 2009 (I gave a presentation at the AGM).

To wet your appetite, I decided to showcase the piece here on my blog, the support drawings and insight into the conceptual development, including reference material that inspired the styling; techniques and methods that make this one of my most special hand-built pieces. Hopefully it will inspire would-be bidders to raise money for a good cause.

The encounter (170X140X50mm). The piece takes the form and shape of a rocking seascape with impending doom on the surface, an encounter between a shark and a wave. On the surface there is formal harmony, the wave and the shark sharing the same shape, however the turmoil is lurching below, the fish scattering in all directions, jumping in and out through �mandorla� almond shaped piercings (symbol of rebirth). Ultimately the piece celebrates the joy of making, the beauty in the material (hand built and carved porcelain) and then there is the meaning � impending doom, Always ! - that is life. � Tsunami ?

Reference material. The wave was inspired by the great Wave off Kanagawa, a woodblock print by the Japanese artist, Hokusai. The wave has featured in a number of my works including, Riding High (1984).

 

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The most visited posts are;
• Best of Tattoos, Artists and bodies.
• Hair Tattoos.
• Ballpoint pen drawing technique.
• Kore Flatmo; Tattoo Artist.
• Best of Ballpoint pen drawings; 25 years of it.
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Not bad for a very specialized, Ceramic focused and knowledge based blog.

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Hon's auction Encounter - Ceramics SA AGM Feb 2011.

Encounter. (Feb.09) 170 x 140 x 50 mm. Hand built porcelain piece

The 7^th of January was the birthday of this blog, yes it is two years old. To celebrate the occasion, I am donating one of my pieces to be auctioned at the 2011, AGM of Ceramics SA � watch the media for details. Why this piece you may ask. The work titled, Encounter, came out of the kiln two years ago, born on the day of the AGM of Ceramics SA in 2009 (I gave a presentation at the AGM).

To wet your appetite, I decided to showcase the piece here on my blog, the support drawings and insight into the conceptual development, including reference material that inspired the styling; techniques and methods that make this one of my most special hand-built pieces. Hopefully it will inspire would-be bidders to raise money for a good cause.

The encounter (170X140X50mm). The piece takes the form and shape of a rocking seascape with impending doom on the surface, an encounter between a shark and a wave. On the surface there is formal harmony, the wave and the shark sharing the same shape, however the turmoil is lurching below, the fish scattering in all directions, jumping in and out through �mandorla� almond shaped piercings (symbol of rebirth). Ultimately the piece celebrates the joy of making, the beauty in the material (hand built and carved porcelain) and then there is the meaning � impending doom, Always ! - that is life. � Tsunami ?

Reference material. The wave was inspired by the great Wave off Kanagawa, a woodblock print by the Japanese artist, Hokusai. The wave has featured in a number of my works including, Riding High (1984).

 

         Blog Statistics.

• Total visitors                         34,810
• Average per day                          88
• Average visit length                 1:29
• Page views                           60,414
• Average per day                        162

The most visited posts are;
• Best of Tattoos, Artists and bodies.
• Hair Tattoos.
• Ballpoint pen drawing technique.
• Kore Flatmo; Tattoo Artist.
• Best of Ballpoint pen drawings; 25 years of it.
• Homage to Lee Alexander McQueen

Not bad for a very specialized, Ceramic focused and knowledge based blog.

Read More

Hand-built Porcelain Sculptures

Fountain of life (1983) 350 x 310 x 185 mm. Private collection of Hayden Proud. Photographs by Jac De Villiers.


The following ceramic sculptures were hand-built in porcelain and were the first works completed towards my masters degree at UCT, during the first year of study in 1983. The works focused on the mortal's quest for immortality. This series draws upon Celtic mythology. Reference was made to analogous Christian doctrines, the Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist  as a means to obtaining immortality.


Quest for immortality - Myths pertaining to immortality.


Fountain of Life (ceramic sculpture above).
Imagery: This sculpture depicts a gaelic version of the Old testament paradise. The christian saints diving into the Waters of Life in search of spiritual regeneration. Rising out of the water they eat the mandorla-shaped nuts that have fallen from the trees and thereby receive divine inspiration. 

Process:
Slab-constructed and modelled in porcelain. The porcelain was tinted, inlaid and brushed with manganese, copper and cobalt oxide. Porcelain 'Mint' glaze (dipped). Fired to 1250 degrees Celsius. A 'Green' star glaze earthenware glaze was applied and fired to 1060 degrees Celsius. Painted with gold lustre and fired to 720 degrees celsius.

Immortality Act (1983) 195 x 200 x 110 mm. Private collection. Photographs by Jac De Villiers.


Imagery: The pretentious mortal is drawn by curiosity to attempt to experience the life of the saints for herself. The waters of life rise up and repel as she approached the well. The saints that swim in it cast her out and abandon her.

Process: Slab constructed and modeled in oxide-tinted porcelain and biscuit-fired to 900 degrees celsius. Porcelain 'Mint' glaze (dipped) Fired to 1250 degrees celsius. The 'fish' was painted in acrylic. 

Man is what he eats (1983) 340 x 370 x 60 mm. Private collection Raymond and Emily Hon. Photographs by Jac De Villiers.

Imagery: The subject, desiring to share in the life of the saints, is dressed in her bathing-constume. Appropriately attired, she can swim in the Waters of Life. She is elevated above a container shaped like a fish, which is analogous to a baptismal font. She is shown at the moment of confrontation with the fish she has caught. She is about to consume the fish which is endowed with divine inspiration and knowledge, and to share in these gifts herself. 

Process:  Slab constructed and modeled in porcelain. the 'water' was made of porcelain, inlaid with cobalt-tinted porcelain. The 'fish' is painted with a peach underglaze colour and biscuit-fired to 900 degrees celsius. Porcelain 'Mint' glaze (dipped'. fired to 1250 degrees celsius. Painted with lustre colours and fired to 720 degrees celsius. The 'fish' was painted with acrylic. 

The Apples of Hesperides. (1983) 335 x 345 x 170 mm. Private collection. Photographs by Jac De Villiers.


Imagery: This sculpture, making reference to Egyptian and Christian iconography, portrays the Soul partaking of the Fruit of Redemption. In the Egyptian mythology the soul, on entering the underworld , is symbolised as a hawk.
The orchard is placed on a rectangular base representing an altar, referring to the sacrifices of Christ in the Eucharist. the fish together with the apples is symbolic of the New Adam who brings healing and deliverance.

Process; slab constructed and modeled in porcelain. The porcelain was tinted, inlaid and brushed with manganese, copper and cobalt oxide. Porcelain 'Mint' glaze (dipped). The 'water' was glazed in a earthenware transparent glaze and fired separately to 1060 degrees celsius. Painted with lustre colours and fired to 720 degrees celsius. 
The 'apples' were painted with a yellow lustre (see detail on the right). The dry lustre was lightly sprayed with paraffin causing it to seperate. An application of red lustre was applied to the wet surface causing the red lustre to move with the paraffin. Once the red lustre and yellow lustre intermingled they produced the third colour which was green.

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Hand-built Porcelain Sculptures

Fountain of life (1983) 350 x 310 x 185 mm. Private collection of Hayden Proud. Photographs by Jac De Villiers.


The following ceramic sculptures were hand-built in porcelain and were the first works completed towards my masters degree at UCT, during the first year of study in 1983. The works focused on the mortal's quest for immortality. This series draws upon Celtic mythology. Reference was made to analogous Christian doctrines, the Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist  as a means to obtaining immortality.


Quest for immortality - Myths pertaining to immortality.


Fountain of Life (ceramic sculpture above).
Imagery: This sculpture depicts a gaelic version of the Old testament paradise. The christian saints diving into the Waters of Life in search of spiritual regeneration. Rising out of the water they eat the mandorla-shaped nuts that have fallen from the trees and thereby receive divine inspiration. 

Process:
Slab-constructed and modelled in porcelain. The porcelain was tinted, inlaid and brushed with manganese, copper and cobalt oxide. Porcelain 'Mint' glaze (dipped). Fired to 1250 degrees Celsius. A 'Green' star glaze earthenware glaze was applied and fired to 1060 degrees Celsius. Painted with gold lustre and fired to 720 degrees celsius.

Immortality Act (1983) 195 x 200 x 110 mm. Private collection. Photographs by Jac De Villiers.


Imagery: The pretentious mortal is drawn by curiosity to attempt to experience the life of the saints for herself. The waters of life rise up and repel as she approached the well. The saints that swim in it cast her out and abandon her.

Process: Slab constructed and modeled in oxide-tinted porcelain and biscuit-fired to 900 degrees celsius. Porcelain 'Mint' glaze (dipped) Fired to 1250 degrees celsius. The 'fish' was painted in acrylic. 

Man is what he eats (1983) 340 x 370 x 60 mm. Private collection Raymond and Emily Hon. Photographs by Jac De Villiers.

Imagery: The subject, desiring to share in the life of the saints, is dressed in her bathing-constume. Appropriately attired, she can swim in the Waters of Life. She is elevated above a container shaped like a fish, which is analogous to a baptismal font. She is shown at the moment of confrontation with the fish she has caught. She is about to consume the fish which is endowed with divine inspiration and knowledge, and to share in these gifts herself. 

Process:  Slab constructed and modeled in porcelain. the 'water' was made of porcelain, inlaid with cobalt-tinted porcelain. The 'fish' is painted with a peach underglaze colour and biscuit-fired to 900 degrees celsius. Porcelain 'Mint' glaze (dipped'. fired to 1250 degrees celsius. Painted with lustre colours and fired to 720 degrees celsius. The 'fish' was painted with acrylic. 

The Apples of Hesperides. (1983) 335 x 345 x 170 mm. Private collection. Photographs by Jac De Villiers.


Imagery: This sculpture, making reference to Egyptian and Christian iconography, portrays the Soul partaking of the Fruit of Redemption. In the Egyptian mythology the soul, on entering the underworld , is symbolised as a hawk.
The orchard is placed on a rectangular base representing an altar, referring to the sacrifices of Christ in the Eucharist. the fish together with the apples is symbolic of the New Adam who brings healing and deliverance.

Process; slab constructed and modeled in porcelain. The porcelain was tinted, inlaid and brushed with manganese, copper and cobalt oxide. Porcelain 'Mint' glaze (dipped). The 'water' was glazed in a earthenware transparent glaze and fired separately to 1060 degrees celsius. Painted with lustre colours and fired to 720 degrees celsius. 
The 'apples' were painted with a yellow lustre (see detail on the right). The dry lustre was lightly sprayed with paraffin causing it to seperate. An application of red lustre was applied to the wet surface causing the red lustre to move with the paraffin. Once the red lustre and yellow lustre intermingled they produced the third colour which was green.

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Porcelain hand built sketch.

Encounter. (Feb.09) 170x140x50 mm. Hand built porcelain piece. I have not hand built with porcelain for about 13 years. I decided to make work whilst teaching ceramic practice to the second years. They had to explore plasticity and rigidity; a project brief, introducing them to hand building. Working with slabs and modeling organic and related material, they had to create a piece that demonstrated the diverse properties of clay. Appropriate surfaces had to be developed (mainly textures) to compliment the two contrasting themes. I took the images of the piece, with my cell phone, when it came out of the kiln this morning. I gave a talk at Ceramics SA's AGM. Everyone there enjoyed the work, I therefore decided to post it on my blog. Below is a detail of the fish perturbed by the impending doom on the surface - a Hokusai inspired Wave's encounter with a shark. The same wave appears in two dimensions (ballpoint pen drawing) as a decal / transfer on the paper boats in the to be continued post below.


















Encounter (Detail)

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Porcelain hand built sketch.

Encounter. (Feb.09) 170x140x50 mm. Hand built porcelain piece. I have not hand built with porcelain for about 13 years. I decided to make work whilst teaching ceramic practice to the second years. They had to explore plasticity and rigidity; a project brief, introducing them to hand building. Working with slabs and modeling organic and related material, they had to create a piece that demonstrated the diverse properties of clay. Appropriate surfaces had to be developed (mainly textures) to compliment the two contrasting themes. I took the images of the piece, with my cell phone, when it came out of the kiln this morning. I gave a talk at Ceramics SA's AGM. Everyone there enjoyed the work, I therefore decided to post it on my blog. Below is a detail of the fish perturbed by the impending doom on the surface - a Hokusai inspired Wave's encounter with a shark. The same wave appears in two dimensions (ballpoint pen drawing) as a decal / transfer on the paper boats in the to be continued post below.


















Encounter (Detail)

Read More