Recent Exhibitions
"The Study" Group Exhibition
SABBIA GALLERY, Sydney
17 March - 10 April 2021
"The Australanthus Series"
The forms that comprise these two installations are derived from Echinoid (Sea Urchin) fossils from Eocene deposits of the St Vincent Basin, which can be found on Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
The deposits are about 450 million years old and, although very difficult to access, they provide a remarkable insight into the nature of this part of Australia in the late Pliocene age.
Any form that can survive 450 million years has to be interesting, and I have set about evolving the sculptural virtues of these forms to create the objects in these installations, which are intended as maquettes for much larger works (1:10 or even larger). These could potentially be made from materials other clay, such as bronze for example, although clay offers the most interesting range of surface and colour treatments.
Jeff Mincham
8 March 2021
L'uomo Masters of Ceramics
SABBIA GALLERY
12 June - 11 July 2020
Perhaps the original inspiration for the “Still Life” genre was to capture the accidental assemblage of objects and items simply lying randomly about, which unexpectedly acquired some unique presence when viewed as a group.
For an artist, the next step is to organise or arrange a group of objects, sometimes with a hidden message in mind; then comes the possibility of creating the objects and components themselves in order to construct an entirely unique statement – the ultimate challenge!
When such objects have been brought together intentionally, the components of colour, form, size and surface texture begin to interact, creating a dialogue in search of its own identity. Reaching a final composition or resolution can be a very slow process. The quest is to evoke a special mood, perhaps even a somewhat ethereal one, as each of the elements comes into play. Sympathy and contrast, the play of light and shadow, and a search for harmony are the elements at work here.
Each component that has been brought into these compositions has the ability to stand alone. The Tea Bowl in each composition is intended as the anchor to secure the presence of the other components (the key to the lock so to speak) and the timber-base sets them within a specific field.
When all of these separate components are brought together they acquire a far greater power and presence than they could ever achieve alone – a unique identity, in fact. In this sense a “Still Life” truly lives.