New Ceramics, the first solo exhibition in Cape Town of Johannesburg-based artist Ruan Hoffmann showcases some 100 new pieces made by the artist since his return from in residency in Amsterdam.
Showing at the iArt Gallery until 29 March 2011, New Ceramics comprises a combination of hand-painted images and transfers from cellphone photographs taken by Hoffmann.
All the works are made in paper clay, which is any clay body to which processed cellulose fibre (paper being the most common) has been added. Hoffmann used earthenware clay as the base to which the fibre is added. The pieces ere then covered in a porcelain slip and decorated using various techniques, including metallic lustres, photographic transfers and hand painting.
Hoffmann’s works are often inspired by random events, of which he is able to capture the significance. The imagery in his work is also often the expression of his personal life and experiences, ensuring that it retains a sincerity that complements the metaphors he uses.
