18 May - 4 June 2017
about the exhibition
Julie Bartholomew’s unique ceramic practice is inspired by cultural issues and social debate. Over her career, Julie has had a long term interest in contemporary issues exploring communication technology, consumer culture, female identity and,most recently, the threat of extinction of Australiannative flora and fauna. As Julie explains, “Tread carefully offers a double-edged warning about the dangerous impact of meddling with the environment and simultaneously, our attempts to fix intrusions into natural cycles with scientific methods. Delicately hand-crafted endangered Australian flora are aligned with scientific apparatus, or trapped within the interior spaces of commercial packaging. These assemblages visualise the interrelated natural and man-made worlds in a delicate and beautiful, but sometimes unnerving, manner.” Surfaces have been inscribed with references to the flowers endangered status,with the ambiguous relationship between the porcelain flowers and the scientific apparatus that both defines and confines their existence obvious. Julie uses the industrial technologies of mold making and casting as tools for her one-off sculptures. Her exquisite flower making skills were acquired with the guidance of skilled artisans during residences in Jingdezhen, China. Each of her piecesare beautifully intricate works which are imbued with a deeper meaning.
Dr Julie Bartholomew completed her Bachelor of Arts in 1980 and after completing her Graduate Diploma of Education, gained her PhD from the University of New South Wales in 2006. In the same year she was awarded the International Gold Coast Ceramics Award. Julie has been exhibiting and teaching both nationally and internationally for over twenty five years. Her work is included in many collections including the National Gallery of Australia, the Shanghai Arts and Crafts Museum, China and the WOCEK International Ceramics Collection, Korea. In February 2017, Julie was appointed Head of the Ceramics Workshop at the School of Art, Australian National University in Canberra.
