My passion for English ceramics began with artist Barnaby Barford, a 2002 graduate of the Royal Academy. He is an elegant storyteller, creating unique narratives, using mass-market and antique found porcelain figurines to weave his tales. "Cutting up, exchanging elements or adding to them and repainting then, to create sculptures which are often sinister and sardonic but invariably humorous."
His current exhibition at the David Gill Gallery in London reflects his most recent venture .... animated film ....... creating a world for his characters. "I've always seen my pieces as scenes from a film- I want viewers to make up what happened before and what might happen afterwards- so it felt like a natural progression to work on a film," according to Barford. The work at the gallery is inspired (never replicating scenes) by the animation, he sees it as a "final conclusion to the entire project." Each piece stands on it's own, part of a story, but seen as a complete work of art.
Barford's animated film, DAMAGED GOODS, commissioned in London by the Animate Projects and funded by the Arts Council England and Channel 4, tells the tragic love story of two figurines, who's whole world is lived within the shelves of a bric-a-brac shop. It explores the ideas of forbidden love, material wealth, class division .... all within the "society" of the shelves. The top shelves house the objects that are lavish crystal, silver and gold objects, while the floor is covered with the bits and pieces of broken, discarded ceramics.
The film is spectacular ..... charming, innovative, touching, divine ... take a look!!!.
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