As an avid photographer, Corné du Plessis ventured out of his comfort zone into the medium of ceramics for the second time this year at the SculptX Fair. The fair is being held at the Melrose Arch Gallery in Johannesburg from 5 September to 7 November 2024.
Known as the largest of its kind in South Africa, SculptX acts as a platform for emerging and emerged artists to showcase their work. In essence, the event celebrates the genre of sculpting by exhibiting over 150 artworks from more than 50 artists. Sculptures can be fashioned from a variety of materials, including bronze, wood, glass, crystal, steel, resin or – in du Plessis’ case – ceramics.
His work has always centred around the male physique and this time was no different. In fact, his submission to the seventh edition of the fair consisted of five ceramic structures of male torsos. Ultimately, these five sculptures formed a series entitled ‘Life’s Journey.’
Du Plessis wanted the sculptures to “depict the emotional and physical scarring and healing most of us experience on our journey through life.”
The artist implemented the Japanese phenomenon of Raku to create his pieces with the above mentioned message in mind. Raku is a firing technique used to bring about a myriad of colours within the glaze of a sculpture. In the end, this is what gave the individual pieces their unique, unpredictable palette and patterning.
The technique looks something like this:
1. Fire the ceramic to a temperature between 950°C and 1,100°C.
2. Once this temperature is reached, remove the ceramic from the kiln and place it in a reduction chamber with sawdust and newspaper.
3. Allow the materials to react with each other and produce flames and smoke.
4. Remove the ceramic from the chamber to discover which colours and patterns were created by the unpredictable process.
Whilst du Plessis’ intricate and intensive works of art have already been sold to South African entrepreneur, Tony de Gouveia, there are many more pieces waiting to be viewed at the ongoing fair.
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