Moon Tide by Bettina Willner
For her first solo show at Saint Cloche gallery, Melbourne-based ceramic artist Bettina Willner explores organic sculptures inspired by memories of ancient cities and rugged coastlines.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Virginia Cummins & Cairo Willner-Browne
‘I don’t have just one way I work. Sometimes I draw, scribble, sometimes I write ideas down but mostly I just get stuck into it while the idea is fresh and exciting,’ says Bettina Willner. Photo: Virginia Cummins
‘I’m so excited to share this new body of work with everyone – it seems like a massive time of revelation and joy after a long period of introspection,’ says Bettina Willner. Photo: Virginia Cummins
Moon Tide, Bettina Willlner’s first solo show at Saint Cloche gallery, was inspired by memories of ancient cities and rugged coastlines, celebrating the artist’s experimental approaches and unconventional aesthetic.
Full of repeated patterns, like those we see in nature, Bettina creates forms with a textural quality, which we’re tempted to touch and explore.
Late last year, while away with family, Bettina was exposed to the coastal bushland of Victoria. Like most Australian coastlines, the area was abundant in amazing rock formations, rambling tracks, a wild beach, and amazing flora and fauna. ‘I took a lot of photos while I was there - it was very inspiring,’ says Bettina.
Drawing on this coastal trip and in particular the moons influence over the landscape, Moon Tide unites both contemporary and ancient influences simultaneously, featuring architectural, organic, sculptural and textural structures.
‘The moon has such a strong influence over this whole environment, controlling tides and access to beach caves and revealing the most interesting ocean matter washed up on the shore,’ she says.
The artist’s love of ancient cities stems back from her childhood experiences spent travelling to her European homeland with her family. ‘We explored ancient cities and monuments there. As a child, I had a profound experience of déjà vu. I remember it very clearly. I think I have been chasing this ever since.’
Bettina’s process involves forming the clay into organic forms by hand. ‘Gestural hand building allows me to twist, curve, angle, and pinch the clay with my fingers as my main tool. Then the application of the glazes I use creates pooling and bubbling onto the sculptural form.’
Ideas develop whilst in the making process and are never hurried, with pieces sometimes sitting in Bettina’s studio for a year or more until she’s ready to resolve them.
‘I prefer to have a few pieces to work on at the same time. I move between them as it becomes clear what I should do next, I can see how all my work is connected. I think this is apparent when viewing Moon Tide – despite different techniques, the pieces all sit well together.’
‘The pink textural glaze has a soft non-reflective surface which I love because of the reference to erosion.’ Pictured: Holding Up and Anchored by Bettina Willner. Photo: Cairo Willner-Browne
‘The highly lustrous blue-black and metallics reference reflection and the darker more mysterious side to my work.’ Pictured: Lunar Reflections by Bettina Willner. Photo: Cairo Willner-Browne
“What happens when time stands still, and freedom is restricted? From both every day and transcendent dialogues, my sculptures rise up to answer this question.”
Stay Strong by Bettina Willner. Photo: Cairo Willner-Browne
Glistening by Bettina Willner. Photo: Cairo Willner-Browne
Lunar Reflections by Bettina Willner. Photo: Cairo Willner-Browne
Tackle and Sinker by Bettina Willner. Photo: Cairo Willner-Browne
MOON TIDE AT SAINT CLOCHE
27th Oct - 7th Nov 2021
37 MacDonald Street, Paddington, Sydney
Hours:
Wed to Sat 10am–5pm
Sun 11am–4pm