MARIANNE HUHN

In 2016 I completed a practice-led research (PhD) which resulted in a visual language that commented and recorded Australian politics. Through the research I aimed to recreate a space for our personal lives, through the functional forms we use, to engage with the political events and machinations of the world around us. The primary aim of the research project was to create a new series of functional ceramics that express a personal view of selected Australian political events, giving permanency to the issues that impact our lives. My political convictions informed the text and surface imagery which developed on the surfaces. Words and phrases used by the Australian Trade Union movement and sound bites taken from the slogans and speeches of Australian politicians became prominent in my decision to portray a personal viewpoint. A further aim of the project was to develop a visual language that referenced Australian culture and politics.

The porcelain works produced as a result of this investigation continue the role of ceramics in documenting, recording, and interpreting political history. These works explore how text, visual narratives, and ceramic objects can be combined to provide commentary and discourse about contemporary Australian politics.

Initial training, 2012-2016 PhD Form and Surface Narrative, Porcelain and Politics in the 21st Century, RMIT University, Melbourne; 1994-98 Master of Arts, Ceramics, RMIT University, Melbourne; 1988-92 Bachelor of Arts, Ceramics, RMIT University, Melbourne. Solo exhibitions: 2016 ‘Porcelain and Politics’ Narek Galleries Tanja NSW; 2008 “boundaries”, Beaver Galleries, Canberra;1998 “Narrative Works”, Distilfink Gallery, Melbourne. Group Exhibitions include: 2017 Identity, Skepsi @ Montsalvat, Melbourne; 2017 Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award, Deakin University Art Gallery, Burwood; 2015 Kevin White and Marianne Huhn, Porcelain, Beaver Galleries, Canberra; 2014 Australian-Korea International Invitational Ceramics Exhibition, Hanyang University, Korea. Awards and commissions: 2009-2010 Commission, Form Gallery, Perth; 2005 Gold Coast International Ceramic Award, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Qld; 1997 Newcastle Regional Art Gallery National Ceramic Acquisition Award, NSW; 1993 Potters Equipment Encouragement Award. Publications: 2015 Disparate traditions speak volumes, Kerry-Anne Cousins, Canberra Times; 2011 Neue Ceramics, European Ceramic Magazine Issue 3/11; 2008 Pushing the Boundaries of Porcelain, Sharon Peoples, Canberra Times; 2008 Australian Ceramics Vol 47/3, article written by Shannon Garson; 1994 Pottery in Australia, Graduating Students Edition, vol 33/2; 1990 Crafts Art International, Issue 37, August. Collections: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney; City of Whitehorse Collection, Box Hill, Victoria; Newcastle Regional Art Gallery, NSW; private collections throughout Australia, South Africa, USA and Germany.