Sunday Feature- Carole Epp

For my Halloween edition of the Sunday Feature I decided to feature ceramic artist Carole Epp.  Her work is astoundingly detailed.  It's simultaneously alluring and attractive as well as repellent and disturbing.  

Till death do they part, 2011

A Collection of Small Miseries is a massive, extensive collection of sculptures.  At first glance they appear to be small, precious figurines such as the Hummels that my grandmother used to collect.  There's a sweetness to them at first glance, their poses resemble Victorian figures of children, heads tilted and hands clasped.  It's not until one draws close that one notices something amiss- these figures are not the simpering hummel figurines.  Each small misery displays a small tableau, a little message.   

This one reads: "She felt like a joke and she was falling apart at the seams."  I find this a beautiful figure.  Her pose is somewhat iconic, the grace of the figure contrasts beautifully with the look of the sculls below and the chilling message.  As one draws closer one notices perfectly painted clown makeup on the figure, as well as red hands.  

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"Her sculptural based work incorporates the production of collectible figurines whose traditional genre is subverted by revealing a more truthful representation of behaviour and morality in contemporary society. An analysis of consumer culture is unveiled and dialogue is presented regarding the personal relationship one has with global events and politics." Carole Epp Bio.

He prefered sterile plastic over warmth 2010

Many of her sculptures involve small glass domes, much as some higher priced ornaments.  However these domes always serve a special purpose in the concept of the piece- in some cases they isolate and highlight each individual element.  In the case of the above sculpture contribute to a feeling of sterility and sameness for each individual animal, also a feeling of isolation, both emotionally and in the sense of disease isolation.  The side piece titled - "Never believe anyone over the age of thirty," uses glass domes over each individual head, suggestive of a mad scientist, or a Victorian display of preserved scientific curios. 

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It went beyond role playing, 2006

“Through bringing the overwhelming and devastating nature of war, terrorism, poverty, starvation, genetic technology, and environmental degradation back to a dialogue about the individual consumer, I felt that I could offer more positive outlooks for pro-active change in regards to the issues.  I found that I could use the expectations of the medium and the collectible object as an accessible entry point into the work, allowing for a non-confrontational or disconcerting perspective on the subject matter. I wanted to both entice and repel; and inspire a desire to consume alongside an awareness of the consequences of that consumption.”- Carole Epp

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A reality he didn’t expect.

If you wish to purchase any of Carole Epp's work, check out her Etsy page.  She has both sculptural and functional ceramics available for purchase.