Gordon Baldwin (*1932) is considered as “grand seigneur” of British ceramic avant-garde. His obstinate insistence made this pioneer of studio pottery an important opponent against the “holy canon” of Bernard Leach's concept of functional pottery. Baldwin's understanding of the vessel took it more as an object of art, as an abstract volume and a ground for minimal painting, rhythmic signs, marks and scores. Since the 50s he built his vessel-objects like sculptures disrespecting the wheel's rotating symmetry or useful functionality. Early works seem to be a synthesis of contemporary sculpture and the idea of a vessel, later on developing stele-like works and open bowls he finally came to more closed forms with small irregular openings. Inspired by nature's formations like round washed stones or clouds and reducing the surface to matte black and white with spare marks his current works are absolute and concrete at the same time – if he still calls them “vessels” it's in a poetical and metaphorical sense. On the occasion of Gordon Baldwin's 80th birthday in 2012 the York Art Gallery honoured this classic of British studio pottery with a touring exhibition, a comprehensive retrospective and a catalogue of his life's work under the title “Objects for a Landscape”. With generous support of the British Council Marianne Heller Gallery Heidelberg will show the exhibition “Gordon Baldwin – Artist – Painter – Poet” from the 3rd of March to the 28th of April 2013 – the only possibility to see Gordon Baldwin's works in Germany.
Beispiele:
Study for a very Large white Vessel VI, Oct/Nov 2009
Unititled I from Blue Vessel Series
Untitled II from Blue Vessel Series
Vessel for Isis I
Klee Cloud Vessels II (collect), Nov/Dec 2009 /White)
Vessel from a Trio III
Bowl from a -place of Dark Winds I, 13/09
Venus Love Trap Vessel II
A Vessel Round a Square III
For the Alchemist I
Column III
Vessel with a Cross II
Paper work VII ('It is open top interpretation')
Paper work IV ('There is a stone like this on a beach in Wales')
Opening Sunday, March 3. 11.30 - 18 Dr. Elke Ritt, British Council will be present
Opening speech Dr. Hans - Ulrich Roller, Stuttgart