BODIL MANZ
THE CERAMIST
2 August – 1 September 2018
www.scottish-gallery.co.uk/bodilmanz
THE CERAMIST The Scottish Gallery is delighted to present The Ceramist by Bodil Manz, an artist who has an international reputation for her work in ceramic, in particular her sublime wafer thin porcelain vessels. Bodil Manz was born in Copenhagen in 1943. She graduated from the School of Arts and Craft, Copenhagen in 1965 and went on to study at the Escuela de Diseño y Artesanias in Mexico and Berkeley University in California. She established a studio with her late husband, ceramist Richard Manz, in 1967 in Horve, where she continues to live and work today. Manz has had solo exhibitions in Copenhagen, Brussels, Amsterdam, London and New York and in 2008 was honoured with a major retrospective at the Kunstindustrimuseet in Copenhagen. The deceptively simple cylinder is the vehicle for Bodil Manz’s art. Casting porcelain slip to create delicate semi-transparent vessels, Manz has spent over three decades refining her exploration of the cylinder form. Sometimes the finest of lines are traced and revealed across the inner and outer surface and in other works solid blocks of colour, reminiscent of the palette of Soviet painters of the twenties, provide geometric counterpoints to the delicacy of form and material. Manz’s work is often created from literal translations from objects (domestic or industrial) in the studio or home. Other patterns emerge from observations from the surrounding landscape or in response to a place; the possibilities of abstraction are endless for Manz and the subtle refinement reflects the dedication to her craft and continued dialogue and interest in her subject. Her work is architectural and speaks of the nature of structure and form and the end result is at once personal and universal.
“I love working with ceramics. Working with and exploring [what I can do with clay] is a lifelong process which never stops. A ceramic artist once said: ‘We are romantics of material’ – the material seduces us. In recent years I have been working on a very simple cylinder in porcelain where the transparency of the body allows the light to show the compositions made up by decorations both on and inside and on the outside of the cylinder. To me the cylinder is like a sheet of paper on which I can do different things depending on where I am in life. That is why I do not get fed up with them. I am often asked [what inspires me], but that is not an issue. On the contrary, having enough time to carry out my ideas and thoughts is the problem. The excitement I feel is what keeps me going. The outcome of my experiments with the material. If I have a beautiful glaze or clay, then the ideas of how to use it will pop up. And things happen in life. Everyday life, a trip away, my garden, people around me. Those are the things that inspire me. The privilege of being an artist is that the work never stops. It is always there.” Bodil Manz, 2018 (United and Apart, CLAY (Museum of Ceramic Art Denmark)) Earlier this year, Manz created over 100 vessels for CLAY (Museum of Ceramic Art Denmark) for the exhibition United and Apart which is a celebration of an inspirational group of Danish ceramic artists known collectively as the Keramiske Veje – for 33 years Beate Andersen, Bente Hansen, Sten Lykke Madsen, Bodil Manz, Malene Müllertz and Gunhild Aaberg have joined forces and have each contributed to making Danish crafts and design acknowledged internationally. The works in The Ceramist are part of this impressive diary series and The Gallery is delighted to present her iconic cylinder forms during the Edinburgh International Festival. Christina Jansen The Scottish Gallery
Bodil Manz in her studio, Denmark, 2018, photo: Ole Haupt
Bodil Manz’s studio, Denmark, May 2018
1/ Rain, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 4 with steps and transparency H15 x D17.5 cms
2/ Orange, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 3 with rim H12.5 x D13.5 cms
3/ Black and White, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 3 H10.5 x D13.5 cms
‘The transparent porcelain biscuit fascinates me… The decoration is placed both on the inside and the outside of the shape, and forms, together with the transparent biscuit and with the help of the light a compact whole.’ Bodil Manz, The Ceramist, 2008, P54
All of us who have handled Bodil’s thinly cast porcelain pots for the first time share the same experience, a moment of utter disbelief. The absence of weight is surprising, even shocking and above all, it is gravity defying. For a moment the laws of physics are suspended, part of the hands-on, tactile wonderment of her art. I put the cylinder down but went back to it many times ‌ drawn to its elegance and effortless chic. Garth Clark (Translucent Zen), Bodil Manz, The Ceramist, 2008, P77
4/ April Weather, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 5 H18.5 x D23 cms
5/ Santa Fe, 2018 Porcelain trapped form with rim H13 x D11.5 cms
6/ Blue, 2018 Porcelain trapped form H12.5 x D11.5 cms
7/ Blue, Black, Red, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 3 H11.5 x D13 cms
8/ Forsythia, 2018 Porcelain oval form H20 x W27.5 x D19 cms
9/ Summer, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 1 H7 x D9.5 cms
10/ Russian Cylinder II, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 1 H8 x D9.5 cms
11/ Autumn, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 4 H15 x D18 cms
The compositional mastery and technical proficiency of Bodil Manz in the interplay between materials, technique and decoration create unique works, which in their transparency express changing moods and impressions and anchor them to a floating world. Bodil Manz’s cylinders create a direct link between the viewer and a world of beauty and absorption, but also with an element of something unpredictable that sets the beauty in motion. Perhaps it is this variable and unpredictable quality that also represents the artist’s innermost urge to continue developing the cylinders in both form and decoration – an intellectual commitment. Bodil Busk Laursen, Bodil Manz, The Ceramist, 2008, P56
Right: 1/ Rain, 2018 (detail) Porcelain cylinder no 4 with steps and transparency H15 x D17.5 cms
12/ Blue and Black, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 3 with rim H12.5 x D13 cms
13/ Mist, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 4 with stepped wall H15 x D18.5 cms
14/ Snow, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 4 with relief H15 x D18.5 cms
15/ Black and Red, 2018 Porcelain angular oval form no 16 H10.5 x W20 x D16 cms
16/ Ice, 2018 Porcelain trapped form H12 x W12 x D10 cms
17/ Frosty Weather I, 2018 Porcelain trapped form H13 x W11 x D11 cms
18/ Grey Line, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 2 H10 x D11 cms
19/ Black Square, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 4a H13 x D16 cms
20/ Blue and White, 2018 Porcelain form with wing H10 x W10.5 x D8 cms
21/ Blue Stripes, 2018 Porcelain staggered form I H7.5 x W10 x D9 cms
22/ Blue and Black, 2018 Porcelain staggered form II H7.5 x W10 x D9 cms
23/ Frosty Weather II, 2018 Porcelain trapped form H13 x D11.3 cms
24/ Construction, 2018 Porcelain trapped form H13 x D11.3 cms
25/ Black Stripes, 2018 Porcelain form with wing H10.5 x W13.3 x D9.5 cms
26/ Høganæs, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 3 H12 x W14 cms
27/ Russian Cylinder, 2018 Porcelain cylinder no 3 H10.5 x D13.5 cms
28/ Black, 2018 Porcelain oval staggered form H8.5 x W10.5 x D8 cms
29/ Late Summer, 2018 Porcelain form with wing H10.5 x W13 x D9.5 cms
30/ Forsythia, 2018 Porcelain form with wing H10.5 x W13.5 x D9 cms
BODIL MANZ Born 1943, Copenhagen, Denmark 1961–65 Arts and Crafts School, Copenhagen 1966 Escuela de Diseño y Artesanias, Mexico City, Mexico Art Department, Berkeley University, California
Selected Solo Exhibitions 2018 Bodil Manz, The Ceramist, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh 2018 LVS Gallery, Seoul, Korea 2018 Keramiske Veje, CLAY Keramikmuseum Denmark 2017 Höganäs Museum, Sweden 2016 Johannes Larsen Museum, Kerteminde, Denmark 2015 Galleri Weinberger, Copenhagen, Denmark 2014 Time and Space: Bodil Manz, Ann Linnemann Studio Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark 2013 Bodil Manz: Exploration of Form, Blackwell The Arts & Crafts House, Bowness-onWindermere 2012 Galleri Weinberger, Copenhagen, Denmark 2011 Galleri Pagter, Kolding, Denmark 2008 Danish Museum of Art and Design, Copenhagen, Denmark 2006 Galerie Pierre, Paris, France The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland Garth Clark Gallery, New York, USA 2005 Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium Galerie Besson, London 2004 Galerie Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark 2003 Galerie b 15, Munich, Germany Garth Clark Gallery, New York, USA Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2002 Puls Contemporary Ceramics, Brussels, Belgium Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2001 Garth Clark Gallery, New York, USA 2000 Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1998 1995 1984 1971 Awards 2007
Galerie Nørby, Copenhagen, Denmark Galerie Besson, London Garth Clark Gallery, New York, USA Galerie Carla Koch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Nederlands Keramiekmuseum, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands Garth Clark Gallery, New York, USA Lidköpings Konstall, Lidköping, Sweden Facet, Bing & Grøndahl, Copenhagen Maison du Danemark, Paris, France
The 4th World Ceramic Biennale, Korea, Grand Prize 2005 The 3rd World Ceramic Biennale, Korea, Honourable mention The 7th International Ceramic Competition, Mino, Japan, Honourable mention 2003 Knud V. Engelhardt’s Memorial Grant 2003 The 2nd World Ceramic Biennale, Korea, Jury’s prize, Bavarian State Prize, Germany 2002 Artist of the Year, West Zeeland, Denmark 2001-02 Anna Klindt Soerensen’s 2 year grant 2001 The 6th International Ceramic Competition, Mino, Japan, Honourable mention The 1st World Ceramic Biennale, Korea, Special prize The Thorval Bindesboell Medal 2000 C.L. David’s Fund Carl Jacobsen’s Travel Grant, The New Carlsberg Foundation 1998 The Life Long Grant of the Danish Government The 5th International Ceramic Competition, Mino, Japan, Gold Medal 1997 Ellen and Knud Dahlhoff Larsen’s Foundation Merchant L.F. Foght’s Foundation Kutani International Decorative Ceramic
Competition Award of Merit, Japan 5th World Triennial Exhibition of Small Ceramics, Zagreb, Krapina prize 1994-95 The Danish Arts Foundation, 3 year grant 1993 4th World Triennial Exhibition of Small Ceramics, Zagreb, Grand Prix Arts, Crafts and Design Council’s Annual prize Johan S. Kroeir’s Foundation Silversmith Kay Bojesen and Mrs. Erna Bojesen Memorial Grant 1985 Ole Haslund’s Artist Grant 1978 Ole Haslund’s Artist Grant 1972 The Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory, Jubilee Competition, 2nd prize Bodil Manz -5- Awards 1969 Den Permanente, Ceramic Competition, 1st prize The Cowi Foundation Handelsbanken Jubilee Grant 1968 The Danish Arts Foundation The Danish National Bank’s Jubilee Foundation K.A. Larssen and Mrs. L.M. Larssen’s Grant Manufacturer and Mrs.Svend Aage Rasmussen’s Memorial Grant Painting Contractor Achen’s Grant
Selected public collections Victoria and Albert Museum, London The Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen The Danish Arts Foundation, Copenhagen The New Carlsberg Foundation, Denmark The Trapholt Museum of Danish Visual Art, Arts & Crafts & Furniture Design, Kolding, Denmark Röhsska Konstslöjdmuseet, Gothenberg, Sweden Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden Musée de Sèvres, France Musée des Arts Décoratifs, France Kunstindustrimuseet, Helsinki, Finland Neue Pinakothek, Munich, Germany
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany Sammlung Rudolf Strasser, Museum der Stadt, Landshut, Germany Keramikmuseum Westerwald, Höhr-Grenzjausen, Germany Museum Keramion, Frechen, Germany Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Museum Het Princessehof, Leewarden, The Netherlands The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Montreal, Canada The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, Toronto, Canada Palmer Museum of Art, Pennsylvania, USA Los Angeles County Museum of Art, USA Seattle Art Museum, USA The Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Texas, USA Everson Museum, Syracuse, New York, USA The Newark Museum, New Jersey, USA Mint Museum of Craft and Design, Charlotte, USA Spencer Museum, Lawrence, Kansas, USA Hallmark Collection, Kansas City, Missouri, USA Detroit Institute of Art, Michigan, USA The Museum of Ceramic Art, Gifu, Japan World Craft Forum, Tokyo, Japan Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taiwan Selected publications Bodil Manz, The Ceramist, Narayana Press, Gylling, Denmark, 2008
Published by The Scottish Gallery to coincide with the exhibition BODIL MANZ THE CERAMIST 2 August – 1 September 2018 Exhibition can be viewed online at www.scottish-gallery.co.uk/bodilmanz ISBN 978-1-910267-83-7 Designed by Kenneth Gray Printed by J Thomson Colour Printers, Glasgow All rights reserved. No part of this catalogue may be reproduced in any form by print, photocopy or by any other means, without the permission of the copyright holders and of the publishers.
Cover: 1/ Rain, 2018 (detail) Porcelain cylinder no 4 with steps and transparency H15 x D17.5 cms