Surrender: A multidisciplinary solo art exhibition by Kanika Gupta featuring 18 ceramics works that reclaim surrender as an act of grace, strength and beauty. The enchantment and process of physically working with clay is mirrored with the artist's personal journey of coping with unexpected change.
ARTIST EXHIBITION STATEMENT:
Clay entered my life at a time when nothing in my world made sense. The wet clay was asking to be sculpted – and so I began conversing with it.
Clay is in a continuous process of change. Every moment its mass is changing.
Rather than plan every step, I was liberated in letting the clay slabs guide me and take shape to an entirely different form. I let the convergence of minerals and moisture bring new possibilities.
Clay and I were both in search for equilibrium. When cracks emerged my initial instinct was to mend them - just as I hoped my own wounds would somehow disappear if I tried hard enough. As I began working with them, by shining a light on the cracks, I was able to honour their significance as a source of strength.
The moment you place a sculpted piece of clay into the kiln you have surrendered. There is a certain grace that comes with the humility of accepting the variables that impact how your piece will look and feel.
My process of working with clay, ink and film allowed me to make sense of the incomprehensible and gain the courage needed to surrender. The act of surrender, often seen as a sign of weakness, as an end – was to me, the beginning.
The works on display here are a glimpse of the beauty that came after I surrendered.
Clay entered my life at a time when nothing in my world made sense. The wet clay was asking to be sculpted – and so I began conversing with it.
Clay is in a continuous process of change. Every moment its mass is changing.
Rather than plan every step, I was liberated in letting the clay slabs guide me and take shape to an entirely different form. I let the convergence of minerals and moisture bring new possibilities.
Clay and I were both in search for equilibrium. When cracks emerged my initial instinct was to mend them - just as I hoped my own wounds would somehow disappear if I tried hard enough. As I began working with them, by shining a light on the cracks, I was able to honour their significance as a source of strength.
The moment you place a sculpted piece of clay into the kiln you have surrendered. There is a certain grace that comes with the humility of accepting the variables that impact how your piece will look and feel.
My process of working with clay, ink and film allowed me to make sense of the incomprehensible and gain the courage needed to surrender. The act of surrender, often seen as a sign of weakness, as an end – was to me, the beginning.
The works on display here are a glimpse of the beauty that came after I surrendered.
On Display at The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery: January 12 – March 17, 2019.
Opening Reception at Artist Talk: Saturday, February 2, 2019 2-3pm.
This exhibition has been made possible in part by contributions from:
Siskinds – the Law Firm
Brain Injury Association of Waterloo-Wellington
Opening Reception at Artist Talk: Saturday, February 2, 2019 2-3pm.
This exhibition has been made possible in part by contributions from:
Siskinds – the Law Firm
Brain Injury Association of Waterloo-Wellington
Kanika installing at The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery. January, 2019.
Photo Credit: Amit Kehar
