LONDON — Philip Eglin’s current exhibition, Kick the Bucket, is currently underway at London’s Marsden Woo Gallery (September 7 – October 8). Philip Eglin revisits two familiar themes of his accomplished practice in this latest body of work– a new series of large, vibrantly coloured bucket forms and a further investigation of the female nude.
He sees his buckets as an opportunity to explore the mixing of deliberately unrelated and often mundane subject matter, appropriated from a broad range of sources. Eglin’s characteristic layering of figurative imagery and symbolic yet idiosyncratic palette casts a wry glace at contemporary culture, and highlights his concern with creating a balance between the high and low brow.
Philip Eglin, Kick the Bucket (installation view), 2016. Click to see a larger image.
Installation view focused on “Venus et Amour.” Click to see a larger image.
Installation view focused on “Two Nudes after Matisse. Click to see a larger image.
His new nude figures, whilst referencing 18th century English pottery and Chinese, Blanc de Chine wares, are for the first time conceived from extruded clay tubes imbued with a unique, striated surface that remains evident in the final pieces.
This richly expressive series sees the artist continuing to explore and improvise with clay, while making work that both challenges and provokes the viewer.
Eglin studied at Staffordshire Polytechnic and the Royal College of Art. He is a leading figure in British ceramics and was the winner of the prestigious Jerwood Prize for Applied Arts: Ceramics in 1996. His most recent work explores juxtapositions of imagery related to football (soccer), religion and sex.
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Installation view focused on”La Nuova Religione II.” Click to see a larger image.
Eglin exhibits internationally and his work can be found in major private and public collections including the Stedelijk Museum, the Netherlands, Mint Museum, USA, British Council, London, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. In addition to his ceramic work, Philip Eglin has lectured and taught in various colleges and universities throughout the UK.
Text (edited) and images courtesy of the Marsden Woo Gallery. Photographs by Philip Sayer.
Do you love or loathe these works of contemporary ceramic art? Let us know in the comments.
Installation view of “Focus on the Roly Poly Jam.” Click to see a larger image.
Installation view focused on “Roly Poly Jam.” Click to see a larger image.
Installation view focused on “Venus et Amour II.”
Installation view focused on “Standing Nude.” Click to see a larger image.
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Exciting – can’t wait to see more.
Fabulous work mining and re defining the rich history of manufactured and studio ceramics emerging with fresh and unforeseen results. These pieces make a maker want to make.
Just gret works!
Any ahow in Italy ?
Love the artist’s charming use of contrasting, sometimes colored decorative elements on the same piece, many look like quick sketches of his subjects, depicting their movement and facial expression.
I would love to live with one of his figurines , they are wonderful made and full of energy.
His buckets are canvases with a story all around! His work is great!