Cynthia Manietta
From the 15th to the 28th of November 2011, the Serpentine Community Gallery is pleased to present a visual feast of ceramics.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I consider my range of art practices quite diverse.
My university undergraduate interests initially centred on painting but gradually expanded to encompass sculpture. I completed a ‘split’ painting and sculpture major at Southern Cross University in 1995. Upon graduation, establishing a sculpture studio proved a prohibitive enterprise although I could afford a block of clay. Consequently my relationship with clay began post university studies and continues to the present.
I found ceramics to be an extremely diverse medium. I like hand building, slip casting and the alchemy and intensive study associated with glaze development. I also enjoy producing a range of saleable vessels through my business ‘Turning Earth’. This helps sustain my family and produces extra income to support my artistic endeavours.
A celebratory event for Cynthia Manietta's
exhibition and
a showcase of works by Julia Stewart,
will take place on Friday the 25th of November from 7pm.
The body of work created for this exhibition is designed to explore the issue
of climate change, environment control and population sustainability.
The ‘Advanced Diploma in Ceramics’ course criteria required work
exhibiting integrated animal and human characteristics.
Employing casting techniques I created an army of 25 creatures I call
‘Octababies’: part octopus and part swaddled baby.
I want to convey the message that human tentacles reach into, and exploit,
every part of this planet. There is not one plant or animal on this planet that
we do not eat or utilise in some way. My work expresses a personal opinion
that the world should come together and stipulate a sustainable world
population target. Many people would disagree with what I consider a logical viewpoint, as this idea infringes our human rights, but what of the rights of
our planet and its non-human inhabitants? Our planet cannot provide
enough food and resources to sustain the present human population
in the level of comfort currently enjoyed by Australians.
- Cynthia Manietta, October 2011
The opening of fellow potters Pete and Claire Salkeld's
will take place from 7pm on Friday the 18th of November 2011.