Themes

Themes - The Figure


QTVR OBJECT (441k)

The figure is a rich subject for interpretation, and thus has a long history in ceramic art. The figurative pieces in the Chasanoff collection deviate from conventional notions of portraiture and beauty. Rather, these sculptures depict psychological states and focus on the physicality of the medium. They are unsettling, aggressive, in-your-face, and often repulsive. This group includes some of the most powerful work in the collection.

Tension, anxiety, and psychological incongruity are common themes. In Judy Fox's Einstein, a life-like baby balances precariously on edge. Lee Stoliar's disproportionate figure is framed within a claustrophobic space. Justin Novak's critique of capitalism portrays the dark side of human nature, showing what we're willing to consume to get ahead. These traits are enhanced by the fragmentation of form, such as Michael Lucero's shifting figure of shards. The fragile, flaking surface of Georges Jeanclos's serene figure underscores universal truths about time and mortality. The portraits of Susan Low-Beer and Akio Takamori (Bust of a Young Woman) indicate the complexity of identity or the fracturing of personality.

Other artists use the material for psychological effect. Jean-Pierre Larocque's massive head is disturbing and perplexing, but the handling of the clay is fascinating. We want to touch the head, to manipulate the clay as the artist must have done, and to feel the texture of the once damp clay in our hands. Stephen DeStaebler's figures have a monumental presence like rock cliffs or ancient ruins. In his hands, the clay is a reminder of geological upheavals and the power of the earth.

back to themes

The Mint Museum of Craft + Design is supported by the Annual Fund Drive of the Arts & Science Council - Charlotte/Mecklenburg, Inc.; the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency; the City of Charlotte; and its members.