This month, former puppet-maker and TV satirist Roger Law’s witty and delicate ceramic creations are on display at Sladmore Contemporary, London and he will also be talking about his work in pottery at the British Museum. Both events aim to offer insights into Law’s Odyssea journey from television to the classic Chinese techniques of ceramic-porcelain craftsmanship.
Saltwater pot by Roger Law
Making caricatures from the early 1960s, and being one half of Fluck and Law who created the topical satirical television-puppet show, Spitting Image which satirised many famous politicians, Law was overwhelmed by the frenetic demands of television.
A pair of painted bowls by Roger Law
After visiting China in 2003, following the ending of Spitting Image in 1996 and his subsequent relocation to Australia, Law fell in love with the city of Jingdezhen, known as the porcelain capital of China, as well as the porcelain technique, and has spent many years there working on his ceramic creations.
Large mud skipper bowl by Roger Law
The outcome is numerous exhibitions all over the world and a very successful workshop creating all kind of fine porcelain pottery from vases to bowls in traditional blue green celadon adorned with plants and sea creatures from Chinese mythology from weedy sea dragons to cheer-leader crabs.
Jumping mudskipper pot by Roger Law
Law’s latest exhibition is an exploration of his skills in, and the beauty of modeling overlaid with his own subversive wit.
Children in Roger Law’s big cauldron
Roger Law drawing out the design on a big pot
Mud skipper plate by Roger Law
by Xenia Founta
Roger Law’s solo exhibition will be open until November, 15, 2014 at Sladmore Contemporary, 32 Bruton Place, London, W1J 6NW, and will continue to be sold there after the exhibition ends.
Roger Law talks about his porcelain pots at the British Museum, on November, 14, 2014 from 18.00 to 21.00 during their Ming exhibition
All images by John Lawrence and Derek Au
Images courtesy of Theo Woodham-Smith PR