Hon Invited to exhibit at 2014 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale; work included in the winning proposal of Wendy Gers (a fellow South African) - adjudicated the official curator of the 2014 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale.

Wendy Gers, a research associate at VIAD* (FADA’s Research Centre, University of Johannesburg South Africa) has won the prominent international competition to be the official curator of the 2014 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale. Seven international jurors selected Gers based on her research experience and cutting edge project proposal entitled, "Ceramics Now: Art, Design & Digital Materiality." She was adjudicated the winner after being shortlisted with eight other prominent curatorial candidates from across the globe. In the preliminary selection, potential curators were chosen based on their experience (CV), past curatorial projects, and their contemporary project proposal for the 2014 International Ceramics Biennale.

The highly esteemed curatorial role forms part of the 2014 International Ceramics Biennale (Competition) to be held at the very impressive Yingge Ceramics Museum in Taiwan from May 9 to October 12, 2014. Since 2012, the museum has been alternating between a work contest and a curatorial exposition every two years to expand and promote the cultural contribution of the international ceramics community.

and the ship sails on, Photograph (detail) of ceramic installation
with projected animation (artist's ballpoint pen drawings).

Two renowned South African Ceramists, whose cutting edge works were included in her curatorial proposal, were invited to exhibit their work at the prestigious international ceramics event next year. Eugene Hon a senior lecturer at FADA (the blogger) will showcase his latest work, a ceramic installation with projected animation titled, and the ship sails on (image above).

Masquerade, Press moulded mask
by Clementina van der Walt.

Clementina van der Walt, a lecturer at the Ceramics Department in the eighties, now based in Cape Town, will exhibit one of her renowned wall panels of press moulded masks titled, Masquerade, that alludes to the ongoing tensions associated with forging a new national identity for the so called 'Rainbow Nation' in post-Apartheid times. See image above- follow the link provided for a review by Wilma Cruise of the exhibition titled, Masquerade, held at the Irma Stern Museum  December 2004-5. 

and the ship sails on, photograph (detail), ceramic installation
 with projected animation (artists ballpoint drawings).

In her winning proposal of her choice of ceramists, she states, ‘I endeavored to include a significant proportion of artists and designers attached to universities, academic research laboratories and reputed international organizations such as the International Academy of Ceramics (lAC). This ensures that most of the ceramists are leaders and pioneers in their respective fields. For me, this is essential in order to ensure that Ceramics NOW: art, design & digital materialities sets a benchmark. The artists included are all engaged in an elevated level of critical discourse and designers at the a-front of the digital revolution.’

Wendy Gers the Franco-South African Art Historian and Curator currently lectures at l’Ecole Supérieure d’Art et de Design du Valenciennes, France. She formerly worked as Curator at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum, Port Elizabeth. Research interests include twentieth century Southern African performing arts (especially dance and performance); craft and design (ceramics is her primary area of expertise) as well as museology and curatorial practices. She is also a researcher, arts writer and curator linked to VIAD.

*VIAD – The Research Centre (RC), Visual Identities in Art and Design (VIAD) is an integral part of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) South Africa, spanning across all of its eight departments. The RC’s conceptual underpinnings are based upon the thematics of visually embodying identity in art and design practices.​​

• Competition announcement.
• Museum website.
• VIAD website.

CV; Wendy Gers (Executive summary)

BA Art History and Classical Civilisation, University of KwaZulu-Natal; AUDIS Advanced University Diploma in Information Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal; MA History of Art University of KwaZulu-Natal (cum laude); currently pursuing doctoral studies, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts, London

Gers has authored various museum catalogues, catalogue articles, and published in various journals including Art South Africa, Ceramic Review, and Image & Text. In 2011 and 2012 Gers published articles on Robyn Orlyn and Steven Cohen (Art South Africa 2012. 10(3):48-51); contemporary South African Ceramics (Art South Africa  2012. 10(4):54-59) and on Re-Presentations of Southern San Parietal Art on Drostdy Ware Pottery from the 1950s (Image & Text 2011. 18:).

Fluent in English, French and Spanish, Gers regularly participates in various academic conferences and forums in Europe and South Africa. In July 2012 she participated in the World Economic History Congress, University of Stellenbosch and the South African Visual Arts Historians National Conference at UNISA, Pretoria. She gives public lectures in South Africa and France. Gers is currently finalising a large monograph on Southern African Potteries: 1880-1980, and recently collaborated with Iziko SA Cultural History Museum on the exhibition Fired, which displays works from their ceramic collections, and will show for three years at the Cape Town Castle. Awards and Grants include a 2010 Research Grant Award from Central Saint Martin’s College, University of the Arts.

Out with the old and in with the new - is it really so? Hon renovates.

View of the lounge before the renovations stated -
the last few boxes to be removed.

It has been three months since my last blog entry.  The longest gap ever – however I still have loyal followers and the installed blog Sitemeter indicates that there has only been a slight drop in visitors. Assuring me that I have managed to share art and design insight that is both appreciated and valued. Thank you for your support especially my followers. Its back to normal however – what ever that means - all systems go – lots to share, including breaking news of my invitation to exhibit my latest work on the international ceramic stage – a separate blog post will highlight this opportunity.

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The reason for not being able to blog was the long overdue renovations of my apartment. All 200 square meters of my one bedroom space and place in Killarney. There was a great need to bring in more light, as the flat, although north-facing is located on the first floor. I also had to redo the horrible bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. I also had to accommodate a second guest bathroom in the plans, to increase demand, should I ever consider reselling the flat. My very large studio, computer and TV viewing space is situated in the middle of the apartment and could be split into a second bedroom. The renovations are almost completed.

For three months now I have not had access to my IMac, including a TV and all it has to offer. I was staying in a flat in Killarney Hills owned by a friend of mine – one kilometre away, close enough to monitor the progress of the renovations. Glad to say I am happy to be back in my own transformed space – out with the old and in with the new. 

Main bedroom at night

Not quite – I have collected glass and a number of ceramic pieces since 1986. My glass collection is more extensive and feature mainly in the renovated minimalistic main on-suite bathroom and bedroom. A special narrow opaque glass window designed and installed just above the sunken bath  - houses my special 50s glass vases; some of them signed Holmgaardt – the male versions above the bath and the female heart shapes to the left as you enter the wet area.  

The space is ideal – dark and minimal – tiled all over, complete with white bulkheads installed in the ceiling above. Down lighters, are strategically placed to enhance, highlight the special features of the variety of glass products in my collection. For the first time each and every piece can celebrate its unique qualities of light, colour and translucency – inherent in glass pieces. 

The space is designed to accommodate the pieces and to showcase what attracted me to them in the first place. My friends and guests will also be able to see and enjoy my collection in the best way possible; in a designed for purpose space - whilst maximising the creative designers concept and idea to the full.

I had to pack up this collection, the furniture, books and kitchenware etc – to be stored in my locked studio – dust free for three months.

It took me weeks to pack and days to unpack. Moving the whole lot three times during the three month long renovations – rather traumatic and hectic. The dust and the….. blah…blah…blah…..boring, and now a thing of the past. The end result is a far cry from the original dark and unpractical living spaces created during the 40s and 50s. 

These apartments are normally very spacious and perfectly proportioned including my very own single bedroom apartment. It is perfectly placed on the property with a view of the garden and the swimming pool – hence the fact that we opened up the space, breaking down or through all the walls to let in the light. This approach was applied from all sides. The dining room, for instance, with a nasty view into the common area voids (service pipes etc), was fitted with a large opaque window(image above) to filter in light from the north end. 

My directive to the architects was to retain the original structure but to focus on bringing in more light. I wanted a practical modernist approach with a contemporary look and feel whilst catering for a more sophisticated and stylish look in designated spaces, especially the lounge.

I have always wanted an open plan industrial kitchen (stainless steel with no cupboards), a mixture of Deco and Fifties in the lounge and a glamorous and stylish bedroom with a classical, sophisticated and minimalist look for the bathrooms.  Walls had to be white and the all frames, windows and doors including granite tops had to be black. So it shall be – when all is finely completed.

The Bedroom is exactly the way we planned it – the raised floor, painted white provides an impressive view of the garden, whilst the sliding doors bring in sufficient light and fresh air into the space. Being this high up (original high ceilings) creates a loft like experience – the height of the raised floor is almost the same level as the balcony wall. Instead of looking up at the adjacent flats and into the trees you now looking down on the garden – whilst your privacy is not compromised at all. 

The location of the flat unit on the property and in the building ensures relative privacy (at the end of the L shaped block of flats) – further enhanced by the tall trees forming a green belt from the pool and the opposite flats. The wall in the bedroom is painted black, a perfect background to my framed digital print, a ballpoint pen drawing of water – in wallpaper pattern construction.

The kitchen, even more so,  was designed, constructed and realised in a cost effective manner, making it a very practical space for someone like me that loves cooking. I am a visual, creative and design orientated individual,  who wants to see the cups, the bowls and foodstuffs. I hate everything behind closed doors in a space where your want to get access to everything in a hurry for an efficient, effective and cooking experience. 

I will now be able to sit at my computer, watch the TV and see to the cooking on my stove – very practical and sensible, whilst being stylish and refined. The dark porcelain double-glazed grey tiles on the floor and the walls (one meter high), creates a highly reflective surface further enhanced by the stainless steel kitchen units. Suitable light fittings were purchased in keeping with the industrial kitchen design style.

The dining room is almost modernist in its simplicity and in complete contrast to the dark grey tiled industrial kitchen; the warm parquet sanded floors (acrylic varnish) is complimented by the solid wood dining room table with white marble top and 50's chairs. 

Synergy had to be achieved in the space and I therefore designed and had the sink handcrafted in wood, in sharp contrast to stainless steel kitchen, but matching the dining room table. An antique glass and wood cabinet contains my crystal glass collection completes the sparse warm space. It is situated next to a 1.5 meter high wall – dividing the lounge and dining room for easy access for serving pre-dinner drinks in the adjacent space. One of my ballpoint pen drawings of peonies, a digital print on acid free paper, in a white lacquered frame, adorns the wall.

The rest of the apartment is not completely finished yet and will feature soon. Needless to say I have enjoyed cooking in my new renovated industrial kitchen, had a number of friends over for dinner in the dining room. I enjoy the new open planned bathroom with a wet area for the shower. Most of all, I have enjoyed waking up early on the weekends, opening one section of the sliding door to let in fresh air and the morning light. Spending time reading whilst looking out over the garden – a newly in stalled roller blind filters through the light, obscuring the faint view of very distant flat owners. It is a complete transformation of the space and the apartment – adding value and quality of life at an age when one needs it most – comfort and style to match.

A few items have been completed for the lounge. The re-upholstery of my two deco chairs manufactured on the 21^st of June 1948. I bought them from Suzette Munnik in 1988, she was my boss, the then Head of Department of Ceramics at the Technikon Witwatersrand. The two chairs have been restored (French polished) and re-upholstered in my fabric of choice, closest to the original fabric – embossed Dream Charolite, collection Miami from ZINC Textiles purchased from Romo Designer Fabrics.

I also spent two hours cleaning my fifties light fitting, now looking fabulous secured to the ceiling in the lounge. Elbow grease and Brasso did the job.