Jack Durling is a sculptural ceramicist who creates artworks that are emotively driven by his passion for conservation and wildlife. Celebratory of the animal species depicted, decorative techniques are often combined unconventionally. These organic embellishments create a visual language that subtly highlights beauty with underlying irony.
Inspired by the mass trafficking of animals and climate change these themes feature heavily in Jacks collections. Each piece starts with a coil of clay with this narrative being encapsulated in each bespoke piece, creating a voice for those that cannot speak for themselves.
Having spent much time in Dungeness as a child, textural contrasts have evolved as a recognisable feature in his approach. The layering of materials see’s him cross over harmoniously between ceramics and painting.
Notably his creative practise has seen him develop large scaled installation pieces with The Blind Veterans UK and Educational Institutions, as well as having shown at prolific events both nationally and internationally.
Jack is a Craft Council, Hothouse 2020 Talent.
Stockists
New Ashgate Gallery · Wagon Yard, Lower Church Lane · Farnham
The Biscuit Factory · Stoddart Street · Newcastle
For Arts Sake · Bond Street · Ealing, London
Naked Eye Gallery · 70 Western Road · Hove
Cecilia Colman Gallery · St Johns Wood High Street · London
Dynamite Gallery · Trafalgar Street · Brighton
Ceramic Sculpture
Bleeding For Gold
Poaching is an ever growing crisis in the modern day world. Severely corrupt, highly prized sought after material of animal origin is trafficked on the black market for traditional Chinese medicine and craft practises. Dating back many of centuries, animals such as Rhino and Elephants have and still are brutally maimed and mutulated just for the ivory and horn of which they carry.
Bear species native to Asia such as Sloth Bears are cruelly kept alive and invasively milked through open wounds for their bile found in their stomachs.
...Pain and Sorrow,
Jack has compassionately and emotively created this body of work to express the beauty and value of these species. Through using lustre embellishments commodities poached from the animals depicted is highlighted.
...Rhino Horn is Worth its Weight in Gold,
Significant loss and damage is being continually made upon species such as these, pushing many to the brink of extinction. 'We cannot shy away from these very real problems and simply pretend that it isn't there. Through education and integrity we can move forward and protect which is not rightfully ours.'
Stoneware, Lustre, Hollow Formed, Ceramic Sculpture.
Biome Legacy
Fragility forever encapsulated.
Across the world, habitats and species that live within them all have a role to play in the circle of life. However, human activity is upsetting this natural balance in our world both great and small. This menagerie explores this fragility in ceramic form.
These delicate biomes are forever encapsulated raising many questions. What legacy will we leave behind?
Stoneware, Hollow Formed, Ceramic Sculpture.
Batara, Orangutan, Biome Legacy, H31cm x W20cm x D20cm
Moby, Sperm Whale, Biome Legacy, H40cm x W28cm x D28cm
Sona, Indian Tigress, Biome Legacy, H31cm x W20cm x D20cm
Chi Po, Chinese Pangolin, Biome Legacy, H31cm x W20cm x D20cm
Relic Dynasties
Texturally explorative Relic Dynasties is a collection that explores exotic animals as decorative objects reminiscent of collectors during the past eras in human history. Faced with extinction these species are forever encapsulated in time. The ceramic forms are presented as collectable pieces that would adorn peoples dwellings to signify wealth and style. Focusing in on endangered species in our world today, questions are raised upon the fast growing uncertain futures of these dynasties. Will they serve as a reminder of what we once had for generations to come?
Stoneware, Hollow Formed, Ceramic.
Adrift
The fragility of our Earths climate is an ever increasing issue, undeniably our artic regions are seeing rapid andcomprehensible changes. Vast ice shelves are breaking up and melting that have been intact for many millennia, releasing further greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Consequently this is impacting on its regions wildlife, and life as we know it is under immense pressure to cope under such conditions.
Species are unable to evolve at the rate that change is happening and this work is set as a reminder of the fragility of our planets ecosystems.
Effectively ambassadors, Polar Bears are unable to hunt for food, Walruses are unable to nurse their young. Adrift serves as a reminder but also as a celebration of biodiversity and the beauty of species such as these. That are left in a tilting balance of unfortunate climatic circumstances.
Stoneware, Hollow Formed, Ceramic Sculpture.
Cloaked Cetacea
71% of our world is water, vast oceans are inhabited by some of the largest animals to ever grace our planet and yet still little is known about them. Many of us go about our daily lives and forget to consider what may happen to that little piece of plastic packaging. And sometimes this ends up in places that we wouldn’t expect.
A soup of plastic,
Unfortunately for animals such as whales their delicate ecosystems for which they call home are negatively affected by our indirect carelessness. Vast amounts of plastic is polluting our seas. Through accidental ingestion and absorption these plastics are having consequences for many species great or small.
The beauty of Cetacea. This project seeks to signify of the problem through abstracted highly decorative surface pattern. But more importantly celebrates the beauty of these creatures.
Stoneware, Lustre, Hollow Formed, Ceramic Sculpture.
Obruta
In Black
These pieces seek to elaborate upon oil spillages in our seas. Representative of a greater problem that is effecting majestic species at a direct consequence of the carelessness of humanity. 'For me cormorants have a great connection to my childhood, growing up I holidayed in Dungeness, Kent, England, and would annually visit the RSPB nature reserve there, it was there I learnt about different bird species and the environment, and it is where I discovered the majestic cormorant.'
Stoneware, Lustre, Hollow Formed, Ceramic Sculpture.
Painting Gallery
Jacks artistic practise often sees him overlapping and intertwining ideas between different mediums. In this gallery you will be able to see a selection of handpicked work that reflects Jack painting style. The layering of materials and combining a mix of mediums often plays a key role in his approach.
Expressive in style these pieces compose great atmosphere and capture his subjects compassionately.
The Rise and Fall
Immersing himself in the world of deer. Particularly that of stags, inspired by the concept of 'The Rise and Fall'. How such majestic and beautfiul can fall into danger at the expense of trophy hunting.
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