MARICE CUMBER
“Even though my work is a physical art object I am drawn to making recognisable, domestic shapes - there is a comfort there as the shapes are familiar and accessible and conversely, flip the domestic object into an art piece that contains emotions and experiences.”
I mainly work with clay but recently have started to do some collage work. I like clay because of its physicality, the feel of it and the process of creating an “object” that is then elevated into an “art piece” through the application of drawing, imagery and colour.
Marice Cumber returned to making ceramics after a gap of 30 years, during which time family and work commitments filled her life. The ceramics that emerged after this gap are physical, built responses to the emotions, complexities and uncertainties that she experiences, and has experienced and navigated, during her life and which have become part of her being.
The huge oversized ceramic cups, vessels and vases that Marice makes are confessional, bold and brave. They are highly decorated and are inscribed with her innermost thoughts and personal mantras that she communicates to herself and her audience through her work. These messages, like billboard advertisements, are taken from her personal diaries and notebooks and summarise moments of reflection, contemplation, encouragement and acceptance as she is observing herself going through life and commenting on who she is and what is within her.
Marice studied ceramics at evening classes at Morley Adult Education College (1984 - 1986) and has an MA (dist) in Social Entrepreneurship from Goldsmiths College, University of London (2018). REcent exhibitions include “Plates For Purpose” Messums West Group Show: Group Exhibition “Words To Live By, Words To Live With” David Parr House, Cambridge: Group Exhibition British Art Show: showing with Zuleika Gallery “I Am Going To Fly”: Zuleika Gallery: Solo Exhibition, “Their Voice” Galerie Olivier Waltman, Paris, France: Group Exhibition, IaRex l'Atelier: International Artists Residency Exchange, France
I start with my reflections on moments or feelings and then I try to articulate these through the written word. These are not meant to be literal but to encapsulate the emotion, the uncertainty or the need for something. This then forms the basis for the artwork which considers the balance of the words against the imagery used.
