Earthenware figure (Unique)
ca. 23 x 7 cm
These glazed and lustered earthenware figures evokes a long history of decorative arts even as their sloppy-looking construction defiantly embraces a more lowly vocabulary. These earthenware figures, at the same time whimsical and slightly sinister, radiates an exuberant, unbridled immediacy. This unfettered approach is essentially relatable to our shared human experience.
The characters appear as instinctive beings, conveying both strength and vulnerability.
Glazed in rich, dark browns with hints of green yellow and blue, the figurines are often encrusted with stringy hair and beeks, resembling ceramic birds that defy any attempt to be classified in classic taxonomies.
The birds appear as instinctive beings, conveying both strength and vulnerability, that leads the viewer to question ‘how at ease are we with our animal selves?’”
Birgit Christensen approaches clay with humor, creating sculptural work that tests the malleability and strength of the medium, which is finished with layers of translucent glazes. She’ll often fire a glazed work multiple times to achieve a precise depth of color.
