At 80

27 July 2023 - 26 August 2023

The Scottish Gallery celebrates the 80th year of the internationally acclaimed Danish ceramicist Bodil Manz, known for her ultra-thin, distinctive porcelain cylindrical forms, anchored by bold, geometric abstractions in a style evocative of Russian Suprematism. The artist has created a new series for The Gallery which also includes five mixed media wall pieces.

Over the last 40 years Bodil Manz has perfected her ceramic art with her wafer-thin, transparent cylinders as one of the high-water marks. The cylinders have been cast and are of white, translucent porcelain that is so thin that the outer and inner decoration merge to form a single composition. Each vessel Manz creates is unique. Though they vary in size, texture and design, each is executed with the same technical ingenuity, characterized by a tenuous thinness but also balanced and harmonic design elements that can be observed from every angle. And, despite the unconventionality of Manz’s creations, each one references the traditional form of the vessel rooted in her arts and craft training.

Bodil Manz at 80 is part of The Scottish Gallery’s Wonder Women series for the Festival 2023.

Born: 1943
Place of Birth: Copenhagen

Bodil Manz has been known as a master of eggshell porcelain for many years now. She studied ceramics at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen, then at the Escuelo de Diseno y Artesanias in Mexico and Berkeley University in California, USA. Bodil was shortlisted as one of the finalists for the LOEWE craft prize 2021.

Her cylinders are slip cast porcelain, which she decorated with geometrical patterns on both sides, applied with plain decals. The effect is a pattern on the one side, offset by a shadow of a related pattern on the other. They are so translucent, you can sometimes discern the light passing through them, creating wonderful shadows and drama.

In August 2023 we present Bodil Manz at 80 as part of our Festival Presentation – Wonder Women. Bodil Manz was the subject of a solo exhibition, The Ceramist, as part of our Festival presentation in August 2018.

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