‘Budding Queue’ Vessel

By Anna Donovan

This body of work represents the next step in the evolution of my ‘Queue’ figures. The idea for ‘Queue’ was originally conceived at the very start of 2020, originally meant for an outdoor exhibition the piece was to consist of 50 30cm high stoneware fired human forms, placed in a line spaced approximately 30cm apart. This exhibition unfortunately did not happen due to the Covid 19 pandemic. However, I continued to make the individual pieces, eventually exhibiting a much reduced in number Queue at Rua Red, South Dublin Arts Centre from December 2020 to March 2021. By that stage, the piece had acquired a much more poignant relevance for our time. The idea to create a vessel using these figures had been simmering for most of the latter part of 2020.

I began by pressing stoneware clay into the front half of the same moulds I use for the stand alone Queue figures. Once I had few ready, I began to put together the structure. As I experimented with the vessel’s construction, it occurred to me that these figures were, by coming together, literally supporting each other – much like we have strived to do as a society over the last year and more. To decorate she used layers of porcelain slip scratching into the surface to create deliberate texture which was then accentuated by applying copper oxide after the bisque firing. Final firing was at 1250 degrees. As the piece developed, I could see it evolve into a rather organic shape, much like that of a flower bud, just as it is about to reveal itself in it’s full glory. With that in mind, I like to think this journey for Queue reflects how we are slowly coming out of this pandemic with renewed opportunities and dare I say hope.

Materials: stoneware, porcelain slip, copper oxide. Measurements: 30 x 30cm