Emma Francis
Willoughby Girls High School
SIDESHOW
Ceramics
I have explored an expressionist form of portraiture in a non-conventional medium to represent how the influence of the subconscious governs our individual perspectives. For my body of work I followed impulse and instinct, rather than predetermined design. Doing this allowed me to create characters whose features, expressions and personalities were determined by my own subconscious desires. For each viewer, each face will hold a different meaning, disposition and temperament. My intent was to demonstrate and critique the power of our own subconscious and pre-existing dispositions, beliefs and values in creating bias when confronted with ‘the new’ and ‘the different’.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Takashi Murakami, Grayson Perry.
Marker's Commentary
This series of three vessel forms present an imaginative and expressive series of portraits. The title, ‘Sideshow’, references theatrical or circus characters or perhaps marginalised fringe figures, concepts reinforced by the exaggerated features and colours as well as the layers of patterning and sculptural surface decoration. The work shows a strong awareness of the illustrative contemporary works by Grayson Perry, Jenny Orchard or Mambo artist; Reg Mombassa, yet represents these portraits in a witty, individual style. The vessel forms are expertly constructed hand-built forms with elaborate and complex surface treatments including sculptural coil additions, incising and carving. These surfaces are resolved with expressive and vibrant applications of underglazes and unified with layers of oxide wash that further emphasise the patterns and sculptural forms on the surface.