Drury Brandt

Drury was born in Johannesburg, 1936. He has taught ceramics both locally and internationally. He was an artist in residence in Ireland. His work is found in many private collections as well as the Sandton municipal collection, the Corobrick collection (Pretoria Art Gallery) and the Oliewenhuis National Art Museum (Bloemfontein). He was the recipient of the Handwork prize in the Ceramics Biennale International as well as the Gillian Bickhill award at the PSMO On the Wall Off the Wall Regional exhibition at the Association of arts Pretoria.

My sources and inspiration are diverse. The vessel’s capacity in human service stimulates my interest, albeit from a non-functional art based perspective. This is not to say that function is totally un-noted.

I endeavour to produce work that is timeless, that fits into any period, environment or space.  I gravitate to earthy textures and colour and embrace the flaws and cracks that evolve through the various stages of marking and firing. Sloppy imperfect line or forms are not acceptable to me. Integrity of surface and finish are important.

Where colour is used to decorate vessels, I value marks made freely and randomly yet within a isual structure conforming to my understanding of aesthetic correctness.

I am influenced by the abstract expressionist movement which evolved in New York during the late 30’s to mid 40’s, when artists fleeing from the war in Europe influenced a generation of American abstract artists, giving rise to people like Motherwell, Rothko, Pollock and others.

During trips to and staying for short periods in England, I became enchanted by the forms and shapes of the ships and boats beached at low tide, or hoisted onto cradles for repair or dismantling, or others decaying in breaker yards. Also television images of freighters laying beached on the Black Sea exposed to the elements. All of these images conjure up feelings of utter waste of resources and manpower. This motivated m to make boats resting on their cradles or wrecked on their sides. The works on view are a few of those examples.

Information courtesy of the artist.