PAOLO PORELLI
BELGER CRANE YARD STUDIOS PRESENTS:
PAOLO PORELLI
HU M A N KI N D: THE SUBLIME AND THE RIDICULOUS SEPTEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 17, 2016 ON DISPLAY AT:
BELGER ARTS CENTER 2 1 0 0 WA L N U T S T R E E T KA N SAS CIT Y, MISSOURI
Bush Figure, 2016 Stoneware, steel and found objects 24” x 8” x 8” $4,500
Root, 2016 Stoneware, steel and found objects 25” x 9” x 8.25” $4,500
Sappho, 2016 Black stoneware, steel and found objects 24” x 9” x 11” $4,500
Vortex Bearer, 2016 Brown stoneware with slip 12.25” x 4” x 4.5” $1,300
Boom, 2016 Black stoneware with mixed media 24” x 14.5” x 4.75” $4,500
Artist Statement “The title of the show: 'Humankind: the Sublime and the Ridiculous is a composite. 'Humankind' refers to Porelli’s chosen subject, the human figure, in its broadest sense as well as its various mutations. The sub-title was suggested by Ken Petti, citing the 18th-century text of 'The Age of Reason' by Thomas Paine, which emphasizes the close relationship between these two extremes. It seemed perfect to express those same extremes represented in Porelli’s treatment of the human figure. The anthropomorphic sculptures presented in this show are contemporary images that provide access to an archetypal dimension of reality, and focus on the evocative capacity of sculpture. Ceramic figures serve as ironic commentaries on the excesses and obsessions of global society and the enormous influence that material has on the individual. The statues express the condensation of a visual language contaminated by surrealist solutions, pop proliferations, and archaic symbolism. What Porelli finds seductive about ceramics is that, while expressing modern concepts, he can maintain contact with the technique's archaic roots, amalgamating historical memory and present amnesia. In this exhibition, the majority of the pieces were created during Porell’s fellowship residency at Red Star Studios in the winter of 2016. There are three series of works, distinguished by scale, different clays and techniques. The larger figure series is composed of unglazed sculptures that are completed with either found objects or casts of the same. The smaller figurine series are identifiable by the ceramic techniques adopted for their surface treatments. Whereas some are left unglazed and play on the juxtaposition of dark clay with white slip, another series is characterized by experimentation with the entire range of ceramic decoration, including underglazes and overglazes. The other works in the exhibition break down into two smaller groups, a series of small figurines created during a period as visiting artist at Kansas State University in 2014 and larger figures dating from 2008 to 2011 that chronicle the development of Porelli’s figurative language, largely created in residencies at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, The Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT and the Byrdcliff Woodstock Guild in Woodstock, NY.”
Mad Mother (Homage to Arturo Martini), 2016 Black stoneware with mixed media 23.5” x 10” x 13” $4,500
Overwhelmed, 2016 Black stoneware with mixed media 28” x 12” x 6.5” $4,500
Female with Tube, 2016 Brown stoneware with slip 12” x 6“ x 5” $1,300
Sales Woman, 2016 Brown and white stoneware with slip 14” x 4.75” x 4” $1,300
Thief, 2016 White earthenware with underlaze, glaze and overglaze 11.5” x 6.25” x 4.75” $1,300
St. George and the Dragon, 2016 White earthenware with underglaze, glaze and overglaze 13.75” x 4” x 5” $1,300
Pre-Existent Divinity, 2016 White earthenware with underglaze, glaze and overglaze 13” x 7” x 3.5” $1,300
Pink Lady, 2016 White earthenware with underglaze, glaze, overglaze and decals 12” x 6” x 3” $1,300
Twilight Zone Granny, 2016 White earthenware with underglaze, glaze and overglaze 12.5” x 7.5” x 3.5” $1,300
Mint and Silver Clouds, 2016 White earthenware with glaze and luster 14” x 5” x 4.75” $1,300
Paolo Porelli working in Red Star Studios during 2015-2016 Visiting Artist Fellowship
Porelli received his degree in painting at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome, Italy. Since 1990, he has produced sculpture and functional pottery. Fellowship artist in Residence at Red Star Studios in Kansas City (2015-16), Visiting artist at Kansas State University (2014), Eric Myhre Scholar and Resident artist at The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena, MT (2012), Guest Artist in Residence at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia (2011). He is co-founder of c.r.e.t.a. Rome, an international center for ceramics and the arts. Porelli has exhibited widely in Europe and the US, including solo shows at the Belger Arts Center, Kansas City, MO (2016), the Museo civico di Rocca Flea in Gualdo Tadino (2015) and Interno Ventidue in Rome (2008). Group shows include the 1st Porzellan Biennale Meissen (2016), “Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture in Italy” at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome (2015), the “2015 NCECA Biennial”, “New Directions”, Lacoste Gallery at S.O.F.A. Chicago (2013), “2013 NCECA Biennial" and “Figuration” at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA (2011).
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