Discover the unique and captivating world of Alasdair Neil and Sally MacDonell in their upcoming ceramic exhibition at Contemporary Ceramics.
Alasdair Neil’s work, inspired by decaying industrial architecture and desolate landscapes, features patterns, textures, and forms derived from his vast collection of found objects. His recent pieces showcase the tones of residual paint often found on source objects, while others feature a dry stoneware glaze over metal oxides.
“Why heads? The head is the seat of dreams and imagination” – Alasdair Neil MacDonell
On the other hand, Sally’s spontaneously modelled pieces express familiar, transient moments through pinching and squeezing slabs to form the female body, with visible joins adding to the process and serving as elements of colour in glazing. Experience the connection between the artist and the viewer, prompting a feeling of common humanity in this unique exhibition.
“Through my education, practice and persistence I have developed a unique method with an aim of utilising the versatility of clay to its potential.”
“My making process is a daily repetition in a calm and quiet place. My work is a reflection of thoughts and sensibility in these moments of making.”
“I am wary of having a formula, thinking I have cracked the code… The feeling of satisfaction is surely my enemy. I need to stay focused on trying to create work that has real freedom in it, freedom from materials, method or mentality.”
“Central to my work is the concept of the vessel: creating associations with sharing, ritual and celebration, reminders of our humanity, our history and connection with nature.”
