SPOILED Ceramic Sculptures by Elaine Wilson

A new exhibition of Ceramic Sculptures by artist Elaine Wilson.

Inspired by the writings of Joan Riviere, Bracha Ettinger and Baudelaire. SPOILED explores received ideas about women and femininity and the perpetuation of romantic and stereotypical ideals most currently through the language and tradition of ornamental sculpture and figurines.

Elaine Wilson explains:

"Inspired by my recent research post as Norma Lipman Fellow in Ceramic Sculpture and having worked with clay and ceramic processes for many years, I decided to critically revisit the subtle politics of ceramic ornament and the wider contexts of vanity and masquerade"

The centre piece of the exhibition 'Seeing myself Seeing' features two large ceramic figures/figurines whose gaze is reflected back from fixed pools of gloss colour, examining the double action of looking and the relationship between self-reflection and self-awareness.

Using traditional ceramic processes and pattern with lustres and glazes, Wilson questions the 'otherness' of narcissism and masquerade. Many of the moulded female figurines in the exhibition are slip-cast in porcelain and positioned precariously on plant stands painted with camouflage colour.  Fragmented and often at the point of collapse some of the pieces are tattooed with cut and reassembled ceramic transfers of romantic pastoral scenes.

SPOILED is on show at the Hatton Gallery until 21 February 2010.