Nevine Idris
Caroline Chisholm College
HOMAGE TO HERITAGE
Ceramics
brown raku clay
Homage to Heritage explores my mother’s journey of exile from the war in Sudan to Australia. Each pot represents a different country throughout the journey, from Sudan to Egypt to Australia. For many in the Sudanese community this is a common experience. The main purpose of my body of work is to educate. The structure of the pots expresses the conflict and separation of the war in Sudan and the difficulties of transition and change through Egypt and Australia. The abstract snake on each of the pots refers to African culture as well as indicating my totem animal.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Andile Dyalvane; Doris Salcedo, Atrabiliarios; Vernon Ah Kee; El Anatsui.
Marker's Commentary
This work is a series of three related ceramic vessels based on the student’s Sudanese heritage and migrant experience. Each work incorporates references to the student’s totem snake and to African fabric patterns in strips of incised slip that run vertically along each side of each vessel. These strips are broken and disrupted across the length of the form, representing breaks with culture and disruptions from conflict and change. The works are coil constructed with strongly articulated angled layers and facets with sharply defined edges. There are further detailed sections of precisely carved facets and pattern that echo the larger forms in each vessel and reference work by other African ceramic artists such as Andile Dyalvane. The choice of Feeney’s BRT clay body with its heavily grogged surface complements the references to African culture and crafts from the region. The incised patterns on the strips of slip decoration have been carefully and precisely applied and further emphasized with the use of a contrasting Manganese Dioxide wash. Each form has been expertly coloured with layers of dry brushed underglaze in rich red, orange and ochre tones with confident brush marks used to create direction and textural detail.