Cascade Failure
QSS Studio and Gallery
Belfast
May/June 2021
Presence of Absence was a group show of MFA graduates and students arranged by award winning graduate Charys Wilson.
Having studied together for a year then spending the rest of the MFA course social distancing, a difficult and challenging experience for a group of artists who were so used to working closely together.
Thinking about the different the lockdown situation had on the environment and cleaner air, this work 'Cascade Failure' was developed while thinking about the impact creativity has as a carbon footprint. The materials included anthracite, treated timber and porcelain embellished with 24 carat gold lustre.
Photography courtesy of Marshall Arts Media
Kind words from Slavka Sverakova
Zara Lyness
is a talented ceramicist. In the assemblage below, only the few white specks stand for her exquisite ability. This assemblage is allowed to stay descriptive. Wood and coal and clay are the powers that make the creative force of the ceramicist visible. What intrigues me, is the down to earth confession, that making ceramic art is hard and sweaty job, that adds to the production of smoke, that may contribute to climate change. The artists leaves the coal and wood ready but unused. yet without burning there would not be china, pottery, ceramics... The ceramic forms are not easily legible, I sensed some unexpected seriousness in those shapes.