Geoffrey Palmer: Bound

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Yrellag Gallery is honoured to present Bound, the solo exhibition of Geoffrey Palmer, featuring a series of ceramic works by the artist. Geoffrey Palmer is a ceramic artist living in Hong Kong. Palmer explores nature, the history of ceramics, social pressures, as well as personal emotions in his art practice.

In this exhibition, Palmer reflects his experiences over the past several years, navigating through the social and political changes that swept across the globe, with a particular focus on Hong Kong. He has encapsulated the myriad of mixed emotions that arose during these times of change in the telling and ambiguous concept of being “bound”.

The term “bound” has many facets, as shown by the Oxford English Dictionary’s twelve different definitions, which include verbs, adjectives, and nouns. It encompasses notions of being tied up, limitations, obligations under necessity, territorial boundaries, destined, leaping, bonds that tie, and even enslavement. Within these interpretations are themes of restrictions, removal of constraints, fear, and comfort. Palmer’s exploration of these various meanings offers the viewer a rich tapestry of contemplation and introspection.

With red clay vessels meticulously crafted on the potter’s wheel, through a process of squeezing and excising, Palmer transforms these vessels into objects that are then tightly bound with twisted red fabric strips. The resulting pieces possess a dark, yet not black, glossy interior that simultaneously absorbs and reflects ambient lighting, creating an entrancing visual interplay. The exteriors, mostly unglazed, bear witness to the scratch marks and scuffing incurred during their formation, resembling a hardened and weathered skin. Notably, the rims of these vessels fold partially inwards, suggesting a shielding of the contents, akin to a comforting embrace or a means of self-protection from external adversities.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Geoffrey Palmer is a Hong Kong-based ceramic artist. He was born in New Zealand, where he graduated with degrees in both mathematics and commerce, Palmer moved to Hong Kong taking a corporate position before pursuing his interest in art and graduating with a BA (Fine Art) from RMIT University, Melbourne. Nature, societal pressures, personal emotions, and the history of ceramics all inspire to Geoffrey’s oeuvre.