‘Simplicity,’ a new exhibition featuring the work of contemporary ceramics artist Sigrid Sandker, opened at Castellani House on Thursday.
The exhibition, which will continue until Saturday, October 4, is one of many planned before the end of the year.
New Chairman of the Board of Castellani House Alim Hosein launched the exhibition and praised Sandker’s work and her reinvention of an ancient craft. Ceramics have a long history in Guyana and date back to indigenous peoples who made burial pots and other ceramics, Hosein said.
“The tradition is long in Guyana…so there is a very strong tradition of ceramics in Guyana,” he said. He continued, “When you look at Sandker’s work, it adds a new dimension to the work… its simplicity, its elegance, it uses different types of firing techniques and molding techniques; it adds to the whole range of work already done in Guyana.”
Sandker explained that her exhibition focuses on simple shapes with minimal colour, hence the title of the exhibition. “The use of black and white and
sometimes a touch of blue emphasises the shape and volume of the pieces on exhibit,” she said. She added that her inspiration comes from nature, while the base of her work remains the functional clay pot.
However, she maintained, pottery is not purely utilitarian and should be considered just as artistic as other art forms. “Pottery bridges the two domains of art and craft. Pottery can offer the functional capacity to enable us to sustain ourselves and at the same time be aesthetic and beautiful,” Sandker said before asking, “And why should a clay pot or a tea pot be marked less of art than a painting? Just because a painting hangs on a wall, it should be more art than a clay pot? No.”
Sandker’s exhibition features 37 pieces split between two galleries. The first gallery is themed ‘Earth & Jewelry,’ while the second is ‘Air and Water.’ Along with her ceramics, Sandker has on display four acrylic and oil pastel paintings. All of her works are for sale.
Meanwhile, Hosein revealed that Castellani House will be hosting a number of exhibitions before January, including those of the Guyana Women’s Artist Association (GWAA) and the Guyana Visual Arts competition along with works by celebrated artist Stanley Greaves.
Castellani House’s opening hours are 10am to 5pm from Monday to Friday and 2pm to 6pm on Saturdays.
