LONDON — British artist Paul Scott’s latest exhibition Home Truths at PEER (March 3 – April 22, 2017) features his detailed etched imagery and collaged ceramics replacing the expected pastoral scenes with those of the brutal honesty humanitarian crisis resulting from Syria’s six year civil war.
Re-purposing these cultural artifacts in such a way as to offer new narrative interpretations that encourage re-examination. Drawing from his encyclopedic knowledge of and fascination with the material, he alters, erases and adds new images to the intricately detailed scenes and patterns of these domestic items, whereby the imagery is ruptured and recalibrated for a contemporary world. Scott’s interventions enable him to explore a range of issues from ecology to the refugee crisis.
Above image: Paul Scott, Cumbrian Blue(s) Refugee Series No:2, 2016, In-glaze decal collage on transfer-ware platter c 1920
Paul Scott, Cumbrian Blue(s) Refugee Series No: 2, 2016, In-glaze decal collage on transfer-ware platter c 1920
In creating works from blue and white transfer-ware, which historically has been industrially produced and available to the general public, he aims to elucidate the reality of the Syrian crisis by bringing the narrative into everyday life.
In this way, Scott emphasizes the placement of his work in a continuum whereby the conditions of industrially produced ceramics in the 18th and 19th centuries as well as the types of imagery used – and the contradictions implicit within them – become the ground for his current work
Scott not only engages with the dense lexicon of meaning that can be mined from the designs and images, but also considers the production of the objects themselves and the role that they have played in an industrialized capitalist society.
Paul Scott, Cumbrian Blue(s) The Syria Series No: 10, Palmyra. In-glaze decal collage and gold luster on partially erased, cracked Palmyra pattern bowl by Brownfield, c.1870
Paul Scott, Cumbrian Blue(s) Refugee Series No:1, 2016, In-glaze decal collage on partially erased transfer-ware plate by unknown maker.
Paul Scott, Cumbrian Blue(s) The Syria Series, Damascus. In-glaze decal collage and gold luster on Edward and Enoch Wood, Damascus pattern plate, c.1830
About the artist: Paul Scott is a Cumbria based artist with an international reputation. He creates individual pieces that blur the boundaries between fine art, craft and design and his practice also extends to research, writing and curation. His work in several public collections including The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design Norway, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, National Museums Liverpool, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh and Brooklyn Art Museum USA. Commissioned work can be found in a number of museums and public spaces in the North of England, including Carlisle, Maryport, Gateshead and Newcastle Upon Tyne. He has also completed large scale works in Hanoi, Vietnam and Guldagergård public sculpture park in Denmark. He has been Professor of Ceramics at Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO) since 2011. His current research project New American Scenery has been enabled by an Alturas Foundation artist award in addition to support from Ferrin Contemporary representing the series and his work in the USA. Paul Scott is also represented by The Scottish Gallery.
Photography by: Ollie Hammick
Check out Cfile’s other musings on Paul Scott’s work.
Do you love or loathe these works from the worlds of contemporary ceramic art and contemporary ceramics? Let us know in the comments.
I have just come across Paul’s work. I quite like blue and white dinnerware and wasn’t expecting to see anything other than the ‘usual’ images, but when I had a proper look and realised what the images were I was very impressed. The juxtaposition between the historical use of the dishes and the images of the horrors of war – and mans inhumanity to man really resonated with me.
Well done Paul, you have taken old everyday items and transformed them into powerful messages.
Only recently come across these, and they are stunning. For me, an old form – so well-known it’s near enough invisible – is given new relevance through tackling some of the most important contemporary social and environmental issues of our time. It’s a masterful blue and white wake up call. The pieces are intriguing and thought-provoking. They make me look again, think again.
Reminds me of genius artist Charles Kraffts work.
Congratulations Paul Scott.
By reclaiming and transforming discarded transfer-production ware and giving it your signature visual narrative ‘twist’, you conjure arresting images of disruption and tension in our interconnected, interlocked contemporary world.
It all seems so simple, yet, on these decorated plates, the images often provoke an engagement that questions the passivity of the viewer.
Many people who see these works will recognize a cause, or an event, that they have acted on, giving a donation, attending a rally or working in other ways to alleviate. Those who don’t, may be moved to become more aware, engaged and active.
Transformative ceramics indeed.
Paul, wonderful, congratulations!
I would like to buy : “Cumbrian Blue(s) Refugee Series No:2, 2016” ? Is it possible?
Joëlle
Paul’s work is amazing. Another great show.
Shame didn’t get to see it in the flesh but It is so great to see really good images of the show/ installation itself.