CERAMIX is an exhibition in which ceramic artists worked in collaboration with invited artists of their choice working in other mediums, to create new works. By pairing ceramics with non-ceramics practices, CERAMIX explores the potential outcomes from cross-disciplinary collaboration and dialogue with a focus on experimentation. Moving beyond medium-specificity, it focuses on the open possibilities of clay as a starting point for making work. CERAMIX is a partnership exhibition between Manly Art Gallery & Museum and The Australian Ceramics Association.

Exhibited at Manly Art Gallery & Museum from 14 May - 20 June 2021. Read more about the collaboration between Sarah Rayner and Sophie Carnell below.

Tell us about the work you’ve collaborated on for CERAMIX.

In a simple sense our proposal for CERAMIX was to create an installation of wearable pieces from porcelain and silver, exploring crossovers in our separate practices. However, this collaboration evolved into a compelling dialogue – between us as artists, between our chosen materials, and between the created forms themselves.

While our original concept was to create wearable pieces, our focus became less about functionality and more about bodily references, echoing the arches and curves and the sensuousness found in the jewel-like fruits and flowers of plants.

Our shared quest is to morph and form porcelain from inert matter into a three-dimensional tactile, sensual and compelling works – to communicate, to whisper, to breathe. We wanted the forms to converse with each other. The resulting installation, like a line of text, is a poetic anthology that speaks of the beauty, allure and mystery of plants.

How did you work together for this project?

Our studios span 2530 kilometres over land and sea, so we posted small sculptural pieces to each other. This is where our conversation began. The initial elements of surprise and wonder, giving and receiving, exploring and responding, affirmed that we speak the same language.

Sarah’s subsequent studio visits to Bruny Island became a time to observe one another’s practice – learning, conversing and inspiring each other; two practices coalescing. Our individual creative comfort zones were enriched by mutual respect and trust in each other’s creative process.

We came to realise the challenges of working together with such different materials the white of porcelain and the black tarnish of silver – clean and dirty; one hardening with heat and the other softening, yet both possessing strength and fragility. We were prompted to consider aspects of our own work that would need adapting in order to resolve our collaborative installation. Problem solving was paramount and successful.

How was the process of collaboration led to new insights of directions in your practice?

Sophie: Observing Sarah’s depth of knowledge about the secrets of seeds, pods and plants has been an absolute delight, leading me to examine these small nature-jewels in more details and with greater respect and understanding.

Sarah: Observing Sophie’s command of her material has been inspiring. This collaboration is just the beginning, so I look forward to seeing where it will go in the future. The opportunity to share and exchange ideas and learn new processes and methods has been incredible, leading to alternate ways of thinking and communicating… cross-pollination.

Photography: Greg Piper and Sarah Rayner.