Monday, April 12, 2010

PORTRAITS AND ANCESTORS


Portrait tiles, with underglaze pencil and underglaze colours, still to be partly glazed

"A man finds room in the few square inches of the face for the traits of all his ancestors; for the expression of all his history, and his wants."
Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882, American poet, essayist

The above tiles are to be incorporated into several wall panels which will also refer to themes of memory and meaning. 
In traditional African cultures ancestors play a very significant role. I personally relate more to the notion of clay, the material, wherein lie the spirits of all our dead ancestors together with rain, leaves, stones that have been ground into sand. Mud. The whole cycle of life and death. And the transformation of the clay into a permanent structure incorporates the five elements of earth, water, air and fire...rather profound and what a privilege to work with this material!

2 comments:

Eugene Hon said...

They look great Tina - especially the way they are photographed (lighting)- they appear very three dimensional in places, such as their raised lips and noses. It almost looks as if they are done on paper and they are embossed. stunning

Clementina van der Walt said...

Thanks for that, I really appreciate your feedback. These haven't been high fired yet, so they will eventually look a bit different, also parts will be glazed. And some are actually three dimensional, moulded over a model.