The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 50 no 1 April 2011

Focus: Ceramics + Body
Technical notes from
Stephen Benwell
I hand-build using Keane's
white raku and Southern Ice,
painted with glaze stains on
slip made of Southern Ice
or engobe (made by adding
earthenware clear gloss to the
slip).
I bisque fire the work before
glazing.
I apply the slip in layers with
each piece going through
multiple firings, either
unglazed or glazed with
earthenware clear gloss fired
to 11 oooe and unglazed
Southern Ice fired to 1260°C.
I use an electric kiln.
Top: Stephen Benwe ll, Hoard, 2010, ceramic. found objects, perspex cases
Above: Stephen Benwell, Fragmena, 2010, ceramic, perspex cases
Photos: Christian Capurro
studio. I realised I could use these as materials for a handy short cut as they were already made and
fired. To make them look more like artefacts, I used a hammer to break them into heads, arms and legs.
I sorted and arranged the broken pieces while looking for interesting combinations or anything that
caught my eye. I re-painted some of them adding weathering effects to their chipped forms. Finally, with
the last case, thinking that a perspex case could convince the viewer of anything, I just piled up what
was at hand in the most slap-dash manner, and called it a day.
Along the way some cases developed into scenes with debris scattered on the ground, hinting at
landscapes and figures of classical art and myth. To make more of this narrative potential, and the
planned museum-like atmosphere, I wrote extended captions referring to classical Greek or Roman
history and mythology to accompany the cases. For my proposal I wrote that Collection would be
tongue-in-cheek. There was scope for humour in the idea of a mocked-up museum and I tried to
keep this spirit throughout each case. Underlying this humour was the idea that the forms of display
contribute to understanding what we look at, whether it is kitschy tourist shops, dignified museum
rooms, or art exhibitions.
Note:
Heide Museum of Modern Art will curate a survey exhibition of Stephen's work covering
forty years of his ceramics, to be held in 2013. To prepare for this survey show, Stephen wants
to make contact with collectors who have his work. He can be contacted by email at
sbben2@dodo.com.au.
34 THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS APRil 2011