Simon Reece | Escarpment | Blue Rock
Blue Rock
porcelain, underglaze, polymer clay, epoxy resin, glaze, gold and platinum lustre, and fluorescent acrylic
height: 15.5 cm
Diameter 23 cm
$1250
Blue Escarpment Red Escarpment
From an early age I’ve always collected rocks and minerals having a fascination with their beauty and inherent essence.
I have been making representations of rocks for many years now starting with my continental platters in the early 2000’s. These were escarpment that were flattened as tableaus to become vehicles for presentation of food. Used by chefs notably Christine Manfield in her book Desert Divas.
Slowly these escarpments became very large, 200kg for the Blue Mts Cultural Centre and 8 tonnes or so for the Morning View Rock created in Gulgong as part of the Clay Gulgong 2016. Still searching for the beauty and essence of these natural phenomena. They also became smaller around this time and became more like Japanese Suiseki or Chinese Scholar Rocks for contemplation and meditation. (see notes below)
The Red and Blue escarpments are part of a psychedelic journey with my rocks at present. Contemplation and meditation on the essence of these pieces is where we are at present with respect to modern throw away objects that may get very little attention.
Suiseki (水石?) are small naturally occurring or shaped rocks which are traditionally appreciated.
The Chinese call these stones Gongshi 供石 or Scholars Rocks.
Organic shapes to be contemplated and revered.
Simon Reece studied ceramics at The National Art School (formerly East Sydney Technical College), in 1980 for 3 years. Working for ceramic master, Uneo Norihide in Bizen in 1985, where he learned the art of wood firing ceramics and developing a strong sense of ceramic aesthetics. These skills and methodologies still dominate and inform his work practice.
Constantly adapting and always working with different clays and developing glazes from raw materials, Simon has worked creating tableware for some of Australia’s acclaimed chefs. He has made large-scale environmental sculptures for private commissions and public works.
Recently completing a 27m ceramic mural ‘escarpment’ for Inner West Council in Sydney.
In 2014, Simon travelled with Merran Esson and Malcolm Greenwood to Shigaraki where they conducted workshops and lectures at the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park.
His recent work includes collaborations with contemporary artists and continuing to develop and adapt his own studio practice.
His work has been exhibited at galleries including The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Manly Art Gallery, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, Newcastle Regional Art Gallery, Gold Coast Art Gallery. His work is held in private collections in Australia, USA, Japan, Europe, The Newcastle Regional Gallery and Manly Art Gallery and Museum.
He was one of the Master ceramicists at CLAYarc Gulgong in April 2016
