Joan Clare Brown crafts compelling porcelain sculptures that reside in the delicate space between fragility and resilience. Her ongoing series, Ed, delves into the profound experience of grief, using the stark reality of human anatomy as a foundation. The artist transforms personal sorrow into tangible forms, exploring the complex interplay of physical vulnerability and emotional weight.
The distinct elements within Brown’s creations carry layers of significance. Bases resembling gathered fabric or soft pouches symbolize a compromised physical state, while elongated, organic projections evoke the spread of illness. This juxtaposition of seemingly disparate textures and forms underscores the precariousness of the human body and the invasive nature of disease.
Beyond the anatomical references, color plays a vital role in Brown’s narrative. Hues drawn from cherished childhood recollections of her father are embedded within the porcelain. These chromatic links to familiar objects, such as a favorite flannel shirt or a family tablecloth, infuse the sculptures with a sense of intimacy and enduring connection, transforming representations of loss into poignant emblems of remembrance.
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