During Clive Bowen’s Masters of Slipware: East & West exhibition with Masaaki Shibata in April, the artist was asked to undertake a dinner service commission, which during the course of the year turned into a 100 piece service with 20 different slipware patterns repeated five times. The result is an outstanding work of art. We have written this illustrated blog featuring short films from Clive Bowen, to share and celebrate this astonishing achievement and commission.
You can view available work by Clive Bowen here
Bowen is a master slipware decorator, which stems from his initial training as a fine artist and classic studio pottery training in the Leach tradition. Each pot is a homage to the ancient tradition of pottery and a connection to the earth; in Clive’s work there is always a sense of dignity, warmth and joy.
David WhitingClive Bowen is as a gestural decorator, even something of an action painter, applying a fluid spontaneity and broad hand to his trailing, pouring and combing. Seeing his pots in groups - runs of splendid jugs, bowls, platters and press-moulded dishes - reveals Bowen's ability to explore within the parameters of his signature forms.
You can enjoy this short film below as we are given a further glimpse of the final 100 piece dinner service.
In this short film below, we hear from Drew Raitt as he gives us a brief tour of Clive Bowen’s Shebbear Pottery.
In the final short film below, watch Clive Bowen at work in his studio filmed back in February 2020.
publication available
Masters of Slipware: East & West featured in The Gallery in April 2020 but you can still immerse yourself in the exhibition and explore the collections from Clive Bowen and Masaaki Shibata by viewing the accompanying publication here.
You can view available work by Clive Bowen here and by Masaaki Shibata here.
