3 minute read
BOWLED OVER at BELLHAUS Atelier & Galerie
An unexpected, pleasant surprise that leaves one amazed. Or to be overturned from an upright position. The term “bowled over'' can be defined as any one of these. In BELLHAUS Atelier & Galerie’s new exhibition titled BOWLED OVER, ceramics and pottery take centre stage. The plethora of bowls are every bit as pleasantly surprising as they are overturning an outlook on the medium.
The humble ceramic bowl is re-imagined by the Potters’ Association of Namibia (PAN) for their annual themed exhibition – a synergetic collaboration with the ceramics fanatics of BELLHAUS Atelier & Galerie. Not only does the gallery present the ideal space for an exhibit of this nature, but owner and curator Andrea Behnsen fosters a personal love for the art form. When curating in unison with the PAN committee, Andrea chose to showcase a variety of techniques and influences. The result is a wondrous range of bowls in a diverse spectrum of shapes, sizes, colours and functions.
Why bowls, we ask? Because even an object as simple and self-explanatory as the bowl can exist in a million different iterations. And perhaps the most rudimentary of forms can truly highlight the technique and artistic aesthetic of the potter. PAN’s members and non-members who chose to showcase in the exhibit have done just that by showing their skill and unique style in the confines of a hollow vessel.
PAN’s vice-chairperson Jacqui Jansen van Vuuren highlights how environments shape artistic inspiration. An industrial city-living potter’s ceramic bowl might be more muted in colour and simplistic in style. In turn, the potters of Namibia implore texture, colour and organic shape.
The pottery presented in BOWLED OVER, crafted mostly by hobbyist ceramicists residing in Namibia, came to be a clay-form manifestation of the country’s bountiful natural splendour. Be it literally as in the work of Annabelle Venter, who employs small animal figures in her work, or Martin Harris, whose bowls more subtly mirror the hues of green in the north, all the artists’ creations ended up showcasing a deep appreciation and predisposition for the natural.
Stripped back to the basics of ceramics, playing with clay can stir intense nostalgia. Many fond childhood memories involve dirt under fingernails and a kid bowled over by a mountain of mud, creating a featureless sculpture that will not stand the test of time. Playing with clay, or being a potter, awakens childlike exploration. Only, these ceramic art pieces that are fired and glazed may exist for as long as the earth still does.
While the pottery scene in Namibia strives to build a bridge between craftsmanship and art, it is, in its truest form, an artistic endeavour with practically useful results. BOWLED OVER aims to emphasise that in pottery, beautiful and practical are not mutually exclusive. A bowl can be both, and an art gallery full of bowls is just wonderful!
BOWLED OVER opens on Thursday, 9 September at 18:00 for 18:30 and runs from 9 to 23 September. BELLHAUS Atelier & Galerie is located at 18 Bell Street, Windhoek.
