Jane King East Sussex, United Kingdom
My small ceramic sculptures combine opposites of form, texture and colour as metaphors for perfection and control v imperfection and chaos. Through my work I explore the contemporary obsession, evident on social media, with seeking control and perfection in all aspects of our lives. I have an MA in ceramics, exhibit nationally and internationally, and have been shortlisted for a number of prizes.
My ceramic sculptures combine opposites of form, texture, and colour as metaphors for perfection and control versus imperfection and chaos. I'm interested in the contemporary obsession with seeking control and perfection in all aspects of life, and fascinated by the tendency, prevalent on social media, of masking the chaos of real life through the presentation of curated and carefully managed idealised identities, which generally only highlight success or positive news. I explore these ideas through the physical characteristics of my sculptures. In my work, I aim for a sculptural tension between states of messiness and the uncontrolled with the tidy and ordered, the two states co-existing dynamically in each object. I don’t set out to make completely planned objects, rather, objects emerge from new ways of combining these opposing states, which are in themselves the results of different, more, or less controlled processes. Clay can be precise or messy when worked in distinct ways, and I combine different methods within each piece – careful construction with looser handling. Balance is achieved through skilled making and manipulation of materials. Surface treatments include dark, sticky-looking, folding or collapsing glazes contrasted with neatly applied vivid acrylic. My sculptures create dynamic and intriguing environments when displayed in small groups in the gallery space or home environment.
My ceramic work is hand-built, or thrown on the pottery wheel and altered, or both. Each piece takes several hours to make.
Artwork
Plinth series, tangerine and denim blue, ceramic, with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2022
Plinth series, green and green, ceramic, with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2022
Untitled, Fold series, tangerine and green (photo: Bernard G Mills), ceramic, with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2021
Untitled, Fold series, green and denim blue (photo: Bernard G Mills), ceramic, with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2021
Untitled, Spill series, pale pink and black (photo: Bernard G Mills), ceramic, with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2016, Private collection
Untitled, Absence series, tangerine and green (photo: Bernard G Mills), ceramic with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2014, Private collection
Untitled, Spill series, pink and green (photo: Bernard G Mills), ceramic with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2014, £300
Projects and exhibitions
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MK Calling15/02/2021 — 01/11/2020 Five works exhibited in MK Calling, 'showcasing the most dynamic work being made today'. |
MK Gallery, Milton Keynes | Details |
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European Prize for Applied Arts 201820/10/2018 — 20/01/2019 Shortlisted for international competition. The exhibition also toured to Ireland |
BeCraft Gallery, Mons, Belgium | Details |
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Annex Collection Acquisition Award01/04/2017 — 01/05/2017 Shortlisted for acquisition award. Work featured on Annex Collection website |
N/A, N/A | Details |
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Inaugural Julia Carter Preston Prize09/07/2016 — 21/08/2016 Shortlisted for this new prize |
Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool | Details |
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Young Masters Maylis Grand Ceramics Prize16/09/2014 — 15/12/2014 Shorlisted for this new prize for contemporary ceramics |
Lloyds Club, London | Details |
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58th Competition for Contemporary Ceramics, Faenza25/05/2013 — 22/09/2013 Awarded the Medal of the President of the Italian Senate for one of two works selected for this exhibition. Work also featured in international ceramics publication La Ceramica in Italia e nel Mondo . |
International Museum of Ceramics, Faenza, Italy | Details |