Ceramic Vases; Night Howler series 1998.

Night Howler Vase I (1998) height 220mm. Slip cast, painted with Amaco under glaze colour and incised (sgrafitto technique) and fired to 1120 degrees Celsius. 

The Concept.

Literature remains the generative source for my creativity, however in this series of ceramic vases the emphasis has shifted from religion to an investigation of the richness of African and other non western cultural traditions. The vases were developed as an extension of the theme for a range of Ceramic sculptures (Night Howler III featured here on the left); conceived, developed and constructed for a one person exhibition in 1996 at the Sandton Civic Art Gallery in South Africa (to feature on this blog during the month of July). 

The Theme

The theme as the titles indicate, refer to night-howlers (Dija-Nwana); spirits that take on human shapes and create evil in the land (preparatory drawing on the left). The idea is rooted in African mythology, derived from an investigation of the following literary sources. They include Indaba my children by Credo Mutwa, The famished road  by Ben Okri and African myths about the origin of murder as captured in the book titled, Bantu Heritage written by HP Junod. The conceptual development of the series of ceramic sculptures and vases was in direct response to crime related experiences, being a victim of hijacking and other crime related activities at my apartment block, during my stay in a crime ridden suburb of Yeoville in Johannesburg during the 1990s.

Night Howler Vase I - Detail back view (1998) height 220mm. Slip cast, painted with Amaco under glaze colour and incised (sgrafitto technique) and fired to 1120 degrees Celsius. 

Night Howler Vase II - closeup of technique (1998) height 220mm. Slip cast, painted with Amaco under glaze colour and incised (sgrafitto technique) and fired to 1120 degrees Celsius. 

Night howlers and personal experiences. 

The idea of night-howlers is fused with analogous material drawn from news related events and my personal relationship experiences during this troubled time in my life. Events are reflected in dark images suggestive of pain, dismemberment and menace. What makes this work interesting, is the use of the vase as an expressive product (see concept below). 

Night Howler Vase II - front view (1998) height 220mm (collection Carl Landsberg). Slip cast, painted with Amaco under glaze colour and incised (sgrafitto technique) and fired to 1120 degrees Celsius. 

The concept for the Vase.

The idea of the vase, brightly glazed  in orange in the inside and a vitrified Matt black surface (incised - sgrafitto) on the outside, refers to fires made in punctured petrol drums (cut in half), often found on the side of the road, to heat up the vendors, homeless and now central to every game farm's larger. (image of product at CIRCA)

Night Howler Vase II - side view (1998) height 220mm (collection Carl Landsberg). Slip cast, painted with Amaco under glaze colour and incised (sgrafitto technique) and fired to 1120 degrees Celsius. 

Night Howler Vase II back view (1998) height 220mm (collection Carl Landsberg). Slip cast, painted with Amaco under glaze colour and incised (sgrafitto technique) and fired to 1120 degrees Celsius.