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!
