New Canberra Ceramics Exhibition Redefines 'Bling'

In the late 1990s, the term “bling” burst into pop culture through American hip-hop, describing extravagant jewellery so dazzling it mimicked the sparkle of light reflecting off diamonds. Now, a new exhibition by three Canberra ceramicists is giving the concept an entirely fresh interpretation.

“People have come to think of bling as being excessive, this overt money statement,” says artist Jacqui Keogh. “But I think it can be used in so many different ways. It doesn’t have to be ostentatious.”

That’s the premise of Bling Bling, an exhibition from Canberra Potters now on at the Canberra Potters Gallery in the Watson Arts Centre. Keogh has teamed up with Liz Crowe and Lee Nelms for a show that celebrates spectacle and embraces the aesthetic, affectionate, excessive, and even derided aspects of bling.

The trio all live in Canberra’s southern suburbs and met at Old St Luke’s Studio in Gundaroo, where they studied under renowned ceramicist Ian Jones. It was here that they had their first encounter with bling. “Ian did a lot of big woodfired pots, and he often put gold on them, so we were introduced to the idea,” says Keogh.

Each artist has taken a different approach, based on their own style and interpretation of the concept. “Our work has traditionally been quite different, so this has been a challenge – but it has been good for us to kind of push the boundaries,” Keogh says. Her own works are brightly coloured, using lustre (a metallic overglaze) and oversized pieces to create drama.

“I grew up in Queensland, so I always imagine the Gold Coast idea of bling,” says Nelms. “It’s sort of obnoxious, which is what I’ve gone for – a lot of gold, over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek bling. They’re also very sculptural.”

Crowe has created the smallest, most delicate pieces of the show. “I’m the more subtle out of the three,” she says. Each piece is carefully considered, using gold lustre and polished copper wire. She sees her pieces acting as a link between Keogh’s bold works and Nelms’ flashy glitz. “It means they can all speak to each other as a single show.”

The women are also relishing the opportunity to be more creative at this stage of life. “We’ve all had other professions and other competing demands or been busy with kids,” says Keogh.

“But all of our kids are grown up now and we’re able to devote more energy to our art. It’s an amazing time of life and I feel like I can pursue it as a real passion, rather than just something you fit around everything else.”

Crowe agrees. “I’m probably a more reclusive person and it takes a bit of guts to go out there and say ‘look what I made’,” she says. “It’s enormously challenging, but I love doing it. I love the feeling afterwards of what I’ve achieved. It’s very personal – there’s nowhere to hide.”

All the pieces in the exhibition are for sale. “They’re not traditional, minimalist, big white pot you see in homewares stores,” says Keogh. “I think they really lend themselves to somebody with a bit of a bit of flamboyant creativity or an architectural home.”

Bling Bling is now showing at Canberra Potters Gallery, Watson Arts Centre until June 14. Entry is free.