Richard Slee (born 1946) has worked in ceramics
for 30 years and, though his work is not defined by
that one medium, he admits to having 'a
craftsman's mentality to the point of obsession'. In
this exhibition he presents the best of both craft
and fine art worlds: on the one hand meticulously
crafted objects, predominantly ceramic, that
celebrate the act of making; on the other hand, the
immersive experience of a fine art installation.
Slee has made nine new works specifically for the
gallery's fixed display cases. He sees these as
integral to his artwork in that they provide
sympathetic environments for his 'landscapes' of
objects.
The artist's ironic title, 'From Utility to Futility' is
open to multiple readings. On one level it refers to
objects that have been denied functional purpose,
while on another, it explores the decline of male
DIY and making by hand, and the shift in the crafts
from items of everyday utility to autonomous art
objects.
The exhibition is open until 3 April 2011 and has
been curated by Amanda Fielding, Camberwell
College of Arts / V&A Research Fellow in Craft.
