28 May – 14 June 2020

about the exhibition

PORCELAIN brings together the work of six highly respected ceramicists: Prue Venables, Keiko Matsui, Kevin White, Neville French, Shannon Garson and Alice Couttoupes.  The exhibition showcases the complexity, beauty and strength of this material.

Kevin White is one of the most eminent ceramic artists working in Australia and is also highly regarded, nationally and internationally, as a scholar in his chosen medium. His porcelain vessels and their contemporary embellishment take inspiration from the elegance and technical skill of the East Asian ceramic tradition. These arrestingly beautiful forms feature evocative hand-painted decoration with geometric planes of colour. Kevin has also incorporated, in his most recent work, larger sweeping brushstrokes that pay homage to his experience living and working in China and Japan. His distinct signature of interpretation is clear, giving new life to the ceramic traditions and refracting ideas of Japonisme seen in British ceramics of the 19th century.

Kevin was born in England and arrived in Australia in 1985 upon completion of his post-graduate studies at the Royal College of Art in London. In 1978, he was awarded a scholarship by the Japanese Ministry of Education for post graduate research into ceramics in Japan. He then worked for three years in the studio of influential ceramic artist Mr Satoshi Sato. He is currently Adjunct Professor in the School of Art at RMIT University, Melbourne. His work is held in collections throughout the world, including the National Gallery of Australia, Parliament House, Powerhouse Museum, National Gallery of Victoria, Royal College of Art (UK), Tachikichi Corporation (Japan) and the Gifu Prefectural Ceramic Museum (Japan).