Installation view “Magdalene Odundo: A Dialogue with Objects,” Gardiner Museum, Toronto, 2023. | Photo by Toni Hafkenscheid, Courtesy Gardiner Museum THE GARDINER MUSEUM in Toronto acquired a carbonized terracotta vessel by Magdalene Odundo in 2006. A prime example of the renowned artist’s ceramic practice, the elegant, untitled work is defined by its feminine silhouette and smooth lustrous surface embellished with tiny, delicate nipple-like accents. Nearly two decades later, the sculpture is the only work by Odundo in the collection of a Canadian museum and is showcased in a new exhibition. “Magdalene Odundo: A Dialogue with Objects,” the largest North American exhibition of her work, just opened at the Gardiner Museum, which is dedicated to ceramics and clay. Spanning her career, more than 20 works are featured in conversation with objects of art and archeology that speak to Odundo’s influences. Kenya-born, UK-based Odundo is recognized for her elegant, minimalist sculptures. Built and shaped using a hand-coiling method, without a potting wheel or a team of assistants, each vessel takes months to produce. “I describe my work as pared down forms and my ultimate goal and my ultimate aim is to make a form that is so simple that defies any […]
The post On View: Ceramic Sculptures by Magdalene Odundo at Gardiner Museum in Toronto: ‘My Ultimate Goal is to Make a Form So Simple it Defies Explanation’ appeared first on Culture Type.
