JANET DEBOOS

My interest in the history of ceramic decoration and the way in which it both absorbs and expresses cultures, has continued to be the focus of my work. I still enjoy using iconic imagery from the high point of Chinese porcelain decoration (Qing over glaze), colour & line from the deserts of Australia (Ernabella terra sigillata, Australian flora) and that most ancient of techniques from the ceramics lexicon (sgraffito or ‘scratching’) to create my hybrid pottery works that are both contemporary and timeless, culturally specific and yet borderless.

Born Melbourne Victoria. Initial training, East Sydney Technical College, 1971. 1973-1975, ran first wood fire residential schools in Australia at Mudgee NSW; 1979-1980, Head of Ceramics, East Sydney Technical College (now National Art School). Retired from teaching, managed own Brindabella Pottery; 1999, Head of Ceramics, ANU; founded first ANU Distance international university undergraduate award course in ceramics. Upon retiring in 2013, was made ANU Emeritus Fellow. 2008-present, conducts Ernabella Indigenous Arts Centre/ Remote Communities projects at Ernabella, Canberra and Jingdezhen, China. Author of three ceramic glaze books, worked with industry in China and Italy, written articles for Australian and International ceramic journals on education, ceramics and glaze technology, conducts workshops nationally and internationally. Collections include: National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of China, Beijing, public and private collections in Australia and overseas. Elected Member for the International Academy of Ceramics, Geneva, representing Australasia and South Africa.