Annual Exhibition of the Association of Ceramic Artists in Israel, 2015
Curated by Talia Tokatli and Roni Ben-Ari
The work brings together three different kinds of figurines: prehistoric figurines, the Barbie doll as an icon of contemporary culture, and decorative porcelain figurines. Each represents a different social and cultural conception of the female body, reflecting attitudes toward the female image and the meanings and associations embedded within it.
I used three main materials for this project, each carrying its own associations and significance. Porcelain represents the decorative and aesthetic aspects of the classical ideal of feminine beauty. High-iron-content stoneware evokes the prehistoric figurine and its raw, natural power. Stainless-steel rulers, from which the figurines are suspended, connect the work to contemporary culture and to the importance of measurement in defining the ideal female form.
The exhibition brings together museum artifacts, ceramic art and photography. Works from both media are presented in an encounter between two artistic languages, ways of thinking, modes of observation and unexpected connections.
Thirty ceramic artists each selected an archaeological ceramic artifact from a museum collection as the starting point for creating a new work that offers a contemporary interpretation of the original object.
As part of the process, thirty photographers were paired with the ceramic artists. Each photographer created an image in response to the selected object.
Viewers are invited to observe these processes and draw their own conclusions, which need not necessarily coincide with those of the curators.
The encounter between the artists facilitated interdisciplinary exposure and personal exchange. It did not, however, involve joint production or the documentation of collaborative work. (From the exhibition catalogue)
