Sculpture in Context 2008

Price €4,000. Dimensions 1.7m H x 80cm diameter.
The National Botanic Gardens
The Dahlia: Loud and proud.
At the
same time that our National Botanic Gardens were developing in the
early 19th century, so to the Dahlia flower was making its way from
Mexico to Madrid. In the care of a senior member of the staff of
the Royal Botanic Gardens in Spain, the Dahlia would travel far and
wide and indeed this simple flower would become an obsession for
gardeners for the next 200 years. From its humble beginning in
the plains of South America, few could have predicted how much this flower would
change through European plant breeding. Indeed, our Botanic
gardens boasts some 60 varieties of the Dahlia. And so in the
same way that horticulturalists have been captivated by the breeding
and manipulation of this flower, I too became obsessed with the
possibility of some manipulations of my own!
For me this flower sums up perfectly the symmetry of form that is
abundant in the plant world. What could be more perfect, more beautiful
than the ball shaped Dahlia with its uniform petals that form together
to completely fill its spherical head? This
sculpture portrays the flamboyant nature of this flower and depict
the dramatic formation of the petals as they emerge from the centre of
the bloom.
A single flower head can grow as large as 30cm – so for this
piece I have focused on these larger varieties. The pieces were
constructed using a highly grogged crank clay. The individual
ceramic spheres were hand built and then each separate petal was formed
and modelled on to the body. I hope in these pieces to express
the wealth of energy and vitality I see in this flower and indeed to
allow the viewer to see this too. The Dahlia is not shy - instead
it is bold, it is ostentatious, it is loud and proud - as only a flower
can be.
About Sculpture in Context:
Sculpture in Context celebrates its seventh year at
the magnificent setting of the National Botanic Gardens. This unique
sculpture exhibition will showcase Ireland’s finest sculpture by
leading Irish and international artists. The National Botanic Gardens,
with its recently restored Great Palm House, offers a magnificent
setting for this major exhibition of sculpture. The sculptures will be
displayed throughout the gardens, ponds, Palm House and Curvilinear
Range, and the smaller works will be exhibited in the gallery above the
visitors’ centre.
This
independent, artist led exhibition provides a unique platform for
artists and challenges them to respond creatively to a specific
location. Each year a different panel of selectors is invited to
adjudicate this open exhibition, leading to an exciting mix of mediums
and styles.
Sculpture in Context,
has previously exhibited at venues such as Fernhill Gardens, Kilmainham
Gaol and Dublin Castle, and over its 24 years has developed into a
major event in the visual arts calendar. This year Sculpture in Context will
be showing over a hundred sculptures in a range materials such as
bronze, stone, glass, ceramic and steel. The show runs until
October 17th.
Inspiration:
Construction and glazing:
Installation in the River Tolka:
The Dahlia: Loud and Proud:
Acknowledgments:
A big thanks to everyone who helped. Especially to
Katie from the USA for helping with the petals and my sister Eimear, to
Justine and Cathy for being our eyes on installation days and to my
long suffering brothers Tom and John who once again helped bring
ceramics and water together. A big big thanks to Tom Rainey (and
the staff in the University of Dundee) for his expertise in the design
of the support structure and to Siobhan Gallagher for the technical
know-how. Thanks also to my Dad for his knowledge on
concrete. As always thanks to the staff at the Botanics and
the Sculpture in Context committee.

Castleknock
Dublin 15
01-6405614 and 087-2047695
michelle@ceramicforms.com
Copyright
©2003-2008 Michelle Maher. All rights reserved.