Bird Decorations on Stoneware 1935 - 1942

Curator: "Bird Decorations on Stoneware," dating from 1935 to 1942. It's executed with ink and tempera on paper, presenting several bird studies. Editor: It's...peaceful. The birds, the monochrome blue, the creamy paper. They feel so still, like a captured moment. I wonder what the context for the study was, were these drawings intended to inform ceramic production, for example? Curator: The choice of avian subjects immediately strikes me in light of the interwar period, during which this artwork was created, the images of birds could be a coded sign for freedom, reflecting societal tension and the desire for a more peaceful and unbound world. It is further important to note, avian motifs also stand as significant representation within global Indigenous cultural practices, suggesting that in times of stress or suffering one may overcome trauma through art making. Editor: I'm intrigued by your reading through the lens of cultural impact. To me, what is noticeable is that we see them rendered in such a clear, graphic way. I'm really drawn to the lines themselves, the way the ink defines each feather, the subtle shading that gives them form. There is an undeniable relationship here between mark making and the techniques of production for ceramics. We could see these birds themselves, if printed directly, applied as decoration, or acted as a template or study, for further production in the ceramic process, where paint would be built on the surface to deliver texture and shape. Curator: Yes, it definitely embodies a kind of universal yearning for freedom. Considering these as studies, it makes me think about how even acts of crafting become assertions of identity and place within the world during turbulent times. What do you think about the ways the presentation mimics certain traditional Asian artistic formats? Editor: Absolutely. Thinking about "Bird Decorations on Stoneware" as an articulation of freedom through applied techniques makes the work sing with complexity. These "decorations" hint at function, yet serve as statements through thoughtful articulation of form, application of tone, and material use within this work, while considering global interpretations that suggest resilience is achieved via visual language. I find that endlessly enriching. Curator: I agree. Thank you. These birds, poised between decoration and symbolism, truly allow for unique understanding when viewed together with your material based perspective.