The Fragmented Figure

Brown, C. 2005. The Fragmented Figure. UWIC, Cardiff 29 Jun - 08 Jul 2005

CreatorsBrown, C.
Description

The large-scale wall relief entitled Insignificance began as an exploration of the relationship between mankind and nature and the structure of the bodies was inspired by dynamic rock structures off the coast of Maine where the sense of vulnerability in the face of nature’s impassivity is strongly felt. A further connection through both form and content made reference to the 15th century transi tombs as seen in the Louvre museum where the finely carved reclining statue of the aristocrat gives way to the carved stone cadaver below as a reminder of mortality. The fragmented nature of the bodies connects to the artist’s interest in the overlap between archaeology and psychoanalysis where layers are carefully removed to find some hidden knowledge or some scrap of narrative. The layout of the figures represented an archaeological dig but could also be read as a map of a landscape. Both the scale of the work and its content develops debates within the ceramic discipline about the need for presentation in wider context to illustrate serious meaning. The exhibition in Cardiff was commissioned with reference to the themes that were being discussed in the parallel conference, also called The Fragmented Figure. The artists had all been filmed making the work and this study formed part of the debate. The conference ran for 2 days and featured many speakers from aboard. Although the exhibition focussed on the ceramic medium the general tone of the conference was not media specific and it encouraged a multi-disciplinary approach. The artist gave a presentation paper “Embodying Transformation” developing themes around the embodiment of rituals within objects and the importance of archaeology as a central theme in the work and this will be published in July 2006 in Interpreting Ceramics, an online refereed journal.

An earlier opportunity to show the work at the well-established Rufford Craft Centre in Nottinghamshire, with several other internationally know ceramic artists, allowed the work a first broader showing but the central issues behind it were brought to the foreground within the context of UWIC since the approach of even well known applied arts venues remains relatively narrow.

Year2005
Web address (URL)http://www.fragmentedfigure.net/pages/c_brown01.htm
Publication dates
Published2005

Related outputs

Working and dreaming, paper given at Earth, Energy, the 47th Annual National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts conference 2013
Brown, C. 2013. Working and dreaming, paper given at Earth, Energy, the 47th Annual National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts conference 2013. NCECA Journal. 34.

Sculptural ceramics
Brown, C. 2013. Sculptural ceramics.

Marking the line: ceramics and architecture
Brown, C. 2013. Marking the line: ceramics and architecture.

Award
Brown, C. 2013. Award. The Potteries Museum and Art gallery and the Spode factory, Stoke-on-Trent 28th September 2013 to 10th November 2013

Tradition and innovation: five decades of Harrow ceramics
Brown, C. 2012. Tradition and innovation: five decades of Harrow ceramics.

DreamWork
Brown, C. 2012. DreamWork.

Anxiety of endeavour: personal recollections of Harrow
Brown, C. 2012. Anxiety of endeavour: personal recollections of Harrow. in: Tradition and innovation: five decades of Harrow ceramics (exhibition catalogue) Ceramics Research Group.

Another room
Brown, C. 2012. Another room.

Lost and found
Brown, C. 2011. Lost and found. Pangolin Gallery, London 19 May - 18 Jun 2011

The human animal hybrid
Brown, C. 2010. The human animal hybrid. Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, USA 5 Nov - 30 Dec 2010

The Taiwan Ceramic Biennale 2010
Brown, C. 2010. The Taiwan Ceramic Biennale 2010. Taipei, Taiwan

In the playroom: a work in progress
Brown, C. 2010. In the playroom: a work in progress. The Go-Between Conference. University of Glamorgan and National Museum of Wales, Cardiff

Hybrid toys
Brown, C. 2010. Hybrid toys.

Hermaphrodites
Brown, C. 2010. Hermaphrodites. Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia, USA

Crucible
Brown, C. 2010. Crucible. Gloucester Cathedral with Gallery Pangolin

Reflection in action: practice-based research in the UK
Brown, C. 2009. Reflection in action: practice-based research in the UK. 43rd Annual Conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. Phoenix, Arizona 08 - 11 Apr 2009

Fire and Brimstone
Brown, C. 2009. Fire and Brimstone. Gallery Pangolin, Stroud

Ceramics from Great Britain
Brown, C. 2009. Ceramics from Great Britain. Galerie fur Angewandte Kunst, Munich

Sterling Stuff 2
Brown, C. 2008. Sterling Stuff 2. Pangolin London, King's Place, London

Myths and Legends
Brown, C. 2008. Myths and Legends. Contemporary Applied Arts, London

After life
Brown, C. 2007. After life.

Foundation deposits
Brown, C. 2006. Foundation deposits.

Embodying transformation
Brown, C. 2006. Embodying transformation. Interpreting Ceramics. 8.

Collective traces
Brown, C. 2006. Collective traces. Ceramics Technical. 23.

Collective traces
Brown, C. 2006. Collective traces. University College London 22 Mar - 05 May 2006

Body Language
Brown, C. 2005. Body Language. Gallery Pangolin, Stroud

Christie Brown, Heidi Morstang
Brown, C. 2004. Christie Brown, Heidi Morstang. London Gallery West, University of Westminster, Harrow

Sterling stuff
Brown, C. 2003. Sterling stuff. Museum Sigismond Olafsson, Reykjavic, Iceland and Friends Room, Royal Academy, London

Between the dog and the wolf
Brown, C. 2003. Between the dog and the wolf. Kingsgate Gallery, London 2003

Child of glass
Brown, C. 2002. Child of glass. Gallery Pangolin, Stroud, Gloucester 02 Nov - 20 Dec 2002

Red Olympia, Portrait Bust, The Glyptotek
Brown, C. 2001. Red Olympia, Portrait Bust, The Glyptotek. V&A Museum, London 20 Sep - 04 Nov 2001

Red Galateea, Galatea's Helper
Brown, C. 2001. Red Galateea, Galatea's Helper. Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool 01 - 27 Oct 2001

Portrait of the Golem, Portrait of Prometheus, The Glypotek
Brown, C. 2001. Portrait of the Golem, Portrait of Prometheus, The Glypotek. WDO Gallery, Charlotte USA 11 May - 23 Jun 2001

Portrait of Pygmalion, Portrait of Galatea, the Glyptotek
Brown, C. 2001. Portrait of Pygmalion, Portrait of Galatea, the Glyptotek. Philadelphia Clay Studio, USA 01 - 24 Jun 2001

Family portraits
Brown, C. 2001. Family portraits. Craftspace Touring at the Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham 17 Mar 2001 - 29 Apr 2001

Christie Brown - recent sculpture
Brown, C. 2001. Christie Brown - recent sculpture. New York 07 Sep 2001 - 13 Oct 2001

Child of Glass Head
Brown, C. 2001. Child of Glass Head. Quenington Sculpture Trust, Gloucestershire 15 Jun - 7 Jul 2001

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