David Ray, Figure 1 (detail), 2015, earthenware, enamel, gold, 15 x 10 x 10cm

Opening Drinks: Friday 10 April, 6pm

Exhibition: 10 April – 9 May 2015

The concept of the ‘trickster’ is longstanding in our culture – the comedian who tells a horrible truth in a hilarious way, the lovable larrikin who hides mischief behind laughter. A crucial element of this character is that their presence and creativity challenges cultural norms. Both a creator and violator of culture, the ‘trickster’ influences David Ray in his subversion of what ceramics should or are perceived to be. Underneath the aristocratic sheep’s clothing of traditionally perceived beauty, hides the wolf serving as a guise of dysfunction.

Ray will exhibit new ceramic works that are the result of his residency in Liverpool, UK. In these neo-baroque ceramic works, Ray explores the physicality of materials and concepts of the hand-made in a continuously outsourced society. The artist also plays with our perceptions under the guise of the ‘trickster’.

David Ray holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours), in ceramics, from RMIT University and has participated in a wide range of exhibitions both nationally and internationally. Recent solo exhibitions include Infinite Variety, Nellie Castan Gallery (2012) and a retrospective show at Ararat Regional Gallery (2012). Ray has also been involved in many group exhibitions including the Cicely and Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award, Ian Potter Centre: NGV (2012); Collaborative Witness, UQ Art Museum (2011); Childhood, Craft Victoria (2010); New Under the Sun, Jewish Museum of Australia (2010) and Who Let the Dogs Out, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery & Hazelhurst Regional Gallery (2008). Ray’s work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, the Jewish Museum of Australia, The Victorian College of the Arts, Swan Hill Regional Gallery, Shepparton Art Museum, RMIT, Queensland University of Technology and The Clay Studio Philadelphia.