Wings of Light, Feet of Clay

The Clay...

This collection of work is the result of a dynamic collaboration between myself and Christiaan Diedericks.

Much of the work has a semi-religious flavour drawn from the hierarchy of our patriarchal society and functioning religions

After much research into gender identity I produced a series of figures, mainly male. Once the pieces had been fired to a high bisque state I handed them over to Chris. Chris, an astute artist, added his own response to the issues and pieces using underglaze and fine drawings in glaze pencil.

These I then fired, glazed, fired again, added lustre and fired for a final time. Thus trial by fire was extreme. Even so, the pieces then underwent further work; deconstruction and reconstruction ever being an option.

The process was innovative, pushing the media to the extreme. Each piece has its own definitive character, developed over time.

The Wings...

This exhibition is all about gender and identity. The process of finding out who we are sexually despite the external factors prescribing our lives. I explored the process of self realisation.

To me, the wings are a way of expressing this knowledge of self. Ones own level of spiritual maturity.

Fully functioning wings would in reality, give us the greatest freedom of all, escaping the gravity that keeps us earth bound.

And yet, these huge appendages on our backs would also mark us out as different from others.

Similarly, while breaking free of the social constraints placed upon us regulating our gender-based behaviour, so too will this freedom tempt alienation within our society.

Much of the work has a semi-religious flavour drawn from the hierarchy of our patriarchal society and functioning religions.