March 23 – 29, 2019
Opening: Saturday, March 23, 2 – 6.30pm
Artist Talk with Ilaria Maria Sala: March 23, 4 – 5pm
South Island Art Day: March 29, 10am – 6pm
Artist Talk: 29 March, 5 – 6pm
Caroline Chiu Studio, in collaboration with Carl Freedman Gallery, is proud to present an exhibition of new sculptures by German artist Sebastian Stöhrer. The exhibition features 15 works inspired by the artist’s 2017 Travel Residency in China, which included glaze research and site visits in Jingdezhen, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Many of the works are inspired by ancient Chinese masterpieces, traditions and discoveries that the artist made on his travels.
Stöhrer’s quirky, colourful vessels take on various shapes and sizes, and are united by a fluidity that defies their weight. The application and balance of colour are central to the artist’s creative process. Stöhrer has created and continues to perfect his own personal alchemy of glazing. His hand, chemistry and kiln come together and hatch beautifully balanced, vibrant, unique sculptures with their own innate personas. Many of these new works reference Tang and Song dynasty tripods and four-legged cups and vases, deconstructed and complete with bold, vibrant colours inspired by the traditional blue-and-white and Sancai glazing techniques attributed to the same period.
Stöhrer is part of a growing group of contemporary artists who have embraced ceramic art and helped it make its way back into contemporary art venues. The market has responded, largely thanks to leading contemporary artists such as Grayson Perry and Sterling Ruby, whose emotive, tactile works affirm the relevance of ceramic art as a contemporary medium. The tension between old and new is fundamental to Stöhrer’s work, whether it be the application of glaze or the anthropomorphic qualities that the sculptural forms can take on. The organic curvature of his shapes evokes transformation and the humility of an artist who has taken the time to learn the lessons of the past so intensely. In doing so, Stöhrer offers an entirely new future for this ancient art form.
Caroline Chiu Studio
8A Shui Ki Industrial Building
18 Wong Chuk Hang Road
Hong Kong
Weekday viewings available by appointment.
+852 6117 6155
+852 9222 7315
carolinechiu@mac.com
cailin.broere@gmail.com