Pottery exhibition for functional art at Ann Bryant next month
Kei Mouth-based pottery artist Mandy Qomoyi will be showcasing many of her beautiful pottery creations in an exhibition at Ann Bryant Art Gallery on Friday 8 March.
Qomoyi, who holds a postgraduate diploma in ceramics from Goldsmith’s College at the University of London, has created a stunning collection of pots, unofficially titled, ‘From my hand to yours’.
“I could say that it’ sa celebration of the handmade functional pot. Unlike a painting which hangs on the wall until you stop noticing it, a favourite breakfast bowl or coffee mug is something you interact with on a daily basis when you use it and you become aware of its visual and tactile qualities.
“When you hold a handmade cup, you feel the lines created by my fingers, so different from the cold smoothness of factory produced ware,” Qomoyi said.
Qomoyi was raised by architect parents and a painter grandfather, but despite being surrounded by art and creativity, she embarked on a 10-year career journey in housing, welfare and urban renewal, with pottery as a hobby.
She regards herself as more of a potter who creates functional pieces than an artist.
“I mainly make functional ware although that can include large platters and vases as well as bonsai pots. I do occasionally make sculptural pieces.
“I am influenced by the Anglo-Oriental school of ceramics, and I make high fired stoneware ceramics using classic Japanese glazed such as khaki and teadust.
“I like to be disciplined in making pieces which can be decorated freely. Inspiration can come from things seen in nature or from other potters’ work or sometimes just from the discipline of making a form
work for a function,” she said.
For this collection, Qomoyi used a trusted technique that she picked up at Goldsmith’s College called raku, where the glazed pots are heated rapidly to red heat.
“You decide to make a certain shape, but the clay lends itself best to certain forms and you interact with the material to find a solution.
“Pottery is a slow process. Clay dries slowly, firing takes time.
“I find ideas also evolve slowly, sometimes over many years,” Qomoyi said.