Quadrant Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand

endangered: a collection of ceramic bottles and vases

Quadrant Gallery

Oct 18th - Oct 30th

Ceramic artist Liz Fea's new exhibition of vessels at Quadrant Gallery, follows on from a major body of work made in 2009 which referred to the fragile nature of much of the New Zealand landscape.  endangered takes this theme further to also include flora and lepidoptera which inhabit this precious landscape so uniquely ours, which are also threatened and exist in a state of fragility.

These works are influenced not only by the paintings of Colin McCahon, with a similar use of the dense greens used in many of his landscape paintings, but also the early bamboo prints of Stanley Palmer with their rich, textural, tapestry. However they are also essentially a personal observation of seasonal changes in this southern part of the country.

The bottle form is an ancient one and lends itself well to creative interpretations. It also allows a free approach to colour and texture as reflected in the application of glazes. Elements of light and shade appear in these miniature landscapes and give a 'jewelled' quality to the work.

endangered also refers to the very essence of ceramic making which all artists working with clay, (particularly those who are less experienced) understand. Submitting handmade works to the heat of the kiln is unpredictable; the pot is endangered at all stages and until it is safely fired, we cannot know how the work will turn out.

Liz is a relative newcomer to a most ancient art form, graduating last year from the Otago Polytechnic School of Art with a BVA and this year with a Diploma in Ceramic Art. The work in this exhibition is highly experimental and aims to be slightly 'over the top, conveying a sense of fun as well as having a more serious side.