Kirsten Perry and Peta Armstrong maintain an inquisitive and playful approach in their individual art practice. They creatively push and explore their use of the ceramic medium resulting in unique and at times, quirky pieces. Peta Armstrong works from her backyard studio in Torquay and also in the family business of surfboard making. She is a multidisciplinary artist and has recently returned to making ceramics after working in graphic design and screen printing. an artist based in Torquay. “It seems like I have always been drawn to primitive art, in particular masks, and I have absolutely let it never lever my current body of work. I am interested in the different roles they play in disguise, protection and performance. Also the ability we have to attach our own stories to them facilitating meaning, healing and ritual, making them an important tool in modern day personal analysis. With my process I draw the pieces I have been thinking on first and later find myself almost trapped until they start to take shape on the wheel. I find the meditative process of throwing the initial form is a solid starting point that allows me to give the piece a story, then later hand building to add the character. For this group I was influenced by the faces coming out of the work and my own dreams and sleep patterns as they emerged to be either resting, sleeping or well awake.” Kirsten Perry has a background in Industrial Design, Fine Art and Multimedia. The Japanese culture and aesthetics are a major influence on her work. Perry’s practice explores and “pushes” the nature of clay. She likes to set up a framework of playing with the material that allows for an element of chance an serendipity to enter. “I love to investigate the relationship between elements of error, chance, anthropomorphism and humour. Traditionally, errors are discarded or covered up but I like to challenge this aesthetic by highlighting and exaggerating errors, especially through humour. Mould making is central to my ceramic practice. I enjoy the technical challenge of casting objects or textures not usually associated with ceramics, such as paper, foam and cardboard. This process has the ability to transform the object’s original purpose and value. Disposable materials now worthy of consideration. The forms play with negative space, geometry and balance.” Play Clay Play runs August 17 – September 9. To see a full exhibition listing click here.
