Thrown and altered, fired to cone 9 ( 1220-1260 degree Celsius) in a gas kiln, 2010- 2018 By infusing functional wares with human details through eyes and body expressions, the everyday object becomes an artistic work. While many artists are exploring this theme today, my unique take on the work is creation of a scene through photography and creation of families and their interaction as objects/ people.
stoneware, porcelain and terracotta clays, 2018 This art work was created in ceramics as a commentary on Election promises and political rhetoric. At the center is an over the top dinner table with nothing functional or useable much like the statements from our elected representatives. I chose especially absurd and ridiculous statements and paired them with2 famous promises which were broken and had serious repercussions.
stoneware, porcelain and terracotta clays, 2018 This art work was created in ceramics as a commentary on Election promises and political rhetoric. At the center is an over the top dinner table with nothing functional or useable much like the statements from our elected representatives. I chose especially absurd and ridiculous statements and paired them with2 famous promises which were broken and had serious repercussions.
stoneware, porcelain and terracotta clays, 2018 This art work was created in ceramics as a commentary on Election promises and political rhetoric. At the center is an over the top dinner table with nothing functional or useable much like the statements from our elected representatives. I chose especially absurd and ridiculous statements and paired them with2 famous promises which were broken and had serious repercussions.
stoneware, porcelain and terracotta clays, 2018 This art work was created in ceramics as a commentary on Election promises and political rhetoric. At the center is an over the top dinner table with nothing functional or useable much like the statements from our elected representatives. I chose especially absurd and ridiculous statements and paired them with2 famous promises which were broken and had serious repercussions.
stoneware, porcelain and terracotta clays, 2018 This art work was created in ceramics as a commentary on Election promises and political rhetoric. At the center is an over the top dinner table with nothing functional or useable much like the statements from our elected representatives. I chose especially absurd and ridiculous statements and paired them with2 famous promises which were broken and had serious repercussions.
Thrown and altered, fired to cone 9 ( 1220-1260 degree Celsius) in a gas kiln, 2010- 2018 By infusing functional wares with human details through eyes and body expressions, the everyday object becomes an artistic work. While many artists are exploring this theme today, my unique take on the work is creation of a scene through photography and creation of families and their interaction as objects/ people.
Thrown and altered, fired to cone 9 ( 1220-1260 degree Celsius) in a gas kiln, 2010- 2018 By infusing functional wares with human details through eyes and body expressions, the everyday object becomes an artistic work. While many artists are exploring this theme today, my unique take on the work is creation of a scene through photography and creation of families and their interaction as objects/ people.
Thrown and altered, fired to cone 9 ( 1220-1260 degree Celsius) in a gas kiln, 2010- 2018 By infusing functional wares with human details through eyes and body expressions, the everyday object becomes an artistic work. While many artists are exploring this theme today, my unique take on the work is creation of a scene through photography and creation of families and their interaction as objects/ people.
Thrown and altered, fired to cone 9 ( 1220-1260 degree Celsius) in a gas kiln, 2010- 2018 By infusing functional wares with human details through eyes and body expressions, the everyday object becomes an artistic work. While many artists are exploring this theme today, my unique take on the work is creation of a scene through photography and creation of families and their interaction as objects/ people.
Artist Statement
While my work is simple and childlike the process to create and distill it from a very complex idea always remains a challenge.
The sense of play and hilarity entwined with illustrations now forms the backbone of my work. I draw inspiration from cinema, folk culture.
I have been working with anthropomorphism in tableware and now in sculpture for over 7 years. I work a lot with a whole gamut of facial expressions and body movements to inform the work, which infuse life into the characters.
I felt a definitive shift in my work after creating “the broken promised” my first political work where I had to process a lot of content to create a work with a singular voice. It has also started a personal journey where I could no longer keep quiet to the injustices in the world, and even though it has been dealt with humor the seriousness is apparent to the discerning viewer.
While there is a distinct and definitive style, I believe experimentation and working through trial and error is the only way forward.
-- Shirley Bhatnagar
Bio
Shirley Bhatnagar is based between Delhi and Jaipur. She graduated from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad majoring in Industrial ceramics. In 1998 she has worked on many public and private commissions.
She is a visiting faculty in leading design colleges in India, and used to head the Fired Material Application discipline at the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design, Jaipur.
She is also a partner in Ishan Khosla Design LLP ,a design firm based out of New Delhi.
Apart from being a ceramic artist she works on projects that deal with revival of Indian crafts. She has 4 solo exhibitions to her credit and numerous group shows.