11 February - 2 March 2010
about the exhibition
Using earthenware clay and an array of vibrantly coloured glazes and textures, Jenny Orchard brings to life an exotic array of “creatures”, each one possessing a mesmerising charisma and unique personality. Jenny’s sculptures are an expression of her joy and awe in the diversity and beauty of all creation. Obsessed with the idea of hybridity, her creatures feature composite elements of animals, plants and humans, displaying an imaginative disregard for the standards of biological taxonomy. Inspired by Nick Cave’s song “Cannibal’s Hymn”, Jenny describes this latest body of work as an exploration of “our planet’s necessary obsession with food”. Hinting at the complexities of human relationships, and “…the way we all devour each other”, the most human characteristics of Jenny’s creatures are their expressions and stories. Constructed in freeform or assembled on steel rods, these quirky sculptures are not only figments of the imagination but also serve as a commentary on the all consuming nature of humanity.
Born in Turkey, Jenny Orchard grew up in Zimbabwe and emigrated to Australia in 1976. She studied at the Alexander Mackie School of Art (now the College of Fine Arts) in Sydney, where she received a Diploma of Fine Art in 1980. She then completed her Masters of Fine Arts in 2007. Jenny has exhibited widely in Australia and has participated in shows in Japan, Germany, Italy and the USA. Her work has been extensively acquired and is represented widely, including the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; Powerhouse Museum, Sydney; Queensland Art Gallery; Art Gallery of South Australia and National Gallery of Victoria. This is her fifth solo show with Beaver Galleries.