Most of us have ice cream memories from the most important summers of our lives; our favourite childhood ice creams or even sharing ice creams with friends, family and sweethearts.
Artist Anna Barlow evokes these very memories with her series of ice cream ceramics, showing in BICHA Gallery, London, until the 14th August.
“I have focused on ice cream as it is such a momentary yet memorable treat that most of us have experienced and therefore can evoke memories of sensations and tastes as well as prompt a fantasy of desired indulgences”, says the artist.
“I am fascinated by the way we eat food, especially by the rituals around celebrational or indulgent treats that have developed; the way they are assembled, displayed and then eaten”, says Anna Barlow. “I am also interested in how food tells a story of the people and place it’s in. A full stand of ice creams could suggest a hot day or treats abandoned for some mysterious reason”, she concludes.
Moreover, Anna is fascinated at the view of melting ice-cream. “It is something that is usually overlooked and temporary but this can be captured and frozen in time with clay and glaze. I like to work with the materials’ own properties, for example, the dry translucency of high fired porcelain suits the biscuit texture of wafers and ice cream cones and the colourful liquidity of a silky opaque earthenware glaze is used to capture the quality of dripping ice cream. I hope to combine all of the techniques to create a “visual edibility” to my work; it is up to the imagination of the viewers as to how they will taste”, she says.
“Mr Much Too Much”
Bicha Gallery, 7 Gabriel’s Wharf, 56 Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PP
T +44 (0)20 7928 0083
Opening Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 7pm
Until the 14th August
How lovely and delicious!!! Really great work!
I like how art takes inspiration even from the most usual everyday habits 🙂