24 March – 9 April 2022
about the exhibition
Shannon Garson’s serene porcelain vessels capture the poetic beauty of nature. In this new body of work, Shannon draws inspiration from the very beginnings of the universe exploring ways to describe the interconnectedness of nature. She reflects on the notion of commonality between mankind and the stars through similar cosmic matter – the very atoms present at the origins of the universe. As Shannon explains, “The material of the vessels I make came from the same ineffable explosion as the material we are made of. The clay vessels we are so familiar with are ritual objects that connect us to the universe … Drawings move across the pots and contain mythological animals, astrophysical equations, chemical symbols, leaves, flowers and abstract marks. The beginning of the universe in a teacup.” She considers all three surfaces when painting her vessels – the inside, the outside and the base so they become like a globe or a map of discoveries. It is her background as a painter that helps her to translate her imagery onto the porcelain vessels. Beyond the imagery another important element for Shannon is her use of domestic and traditional forms – teacups, bowls and vases take her work beyond the conceptual and into our everyday lives and shared cultural history. These forms explore ideas that connect our domestic private world to the huge forces that created universe. The beauty of Shannon’s work lies in her ability to create a tactile and visceral experience where colour, imagery, texture and form are harmoniously intertwined.
Shannon Garson completed her Bachelor of Visual Arts, Queensland University of Technology in 1993 majoring as a painter. Shortly after, she began decorating after a stint at the Brisbane Gallery Amfora which then led her to throwing and decorating her own vessels. In 2005 Shannon was awarded the Churchill Fellowship which allowed her to travel to France and Italy to study various important ceramics collections before undertaking a four-week residency at Dartington Pottery in Devon, UK. Shannon gained her Master of Visual Arts at the School of Art and Design, Australian National University in Canberra in 2015 and was the Director of the Australian Ceramics Association from 2013-2017. Shannon has received numerous awards and grants including most recently the best three dimensional art work at the 2020 Sunshine Coast Art Prize and the Judges Commendation for her piece in the 2018 Queensland Regional Art Awards.
