Artist Camilla Hanney's solo show invites new ways of viewing the gallery's Wedgwood porcelain collection as well as the history of the gallery and garden.
Through delicately constructed earthenware and porcelain works, Hanney's show explores nature, its preservation and inevitable cycles of life and death. Alongside a series of playful references to the figures captured in traditional porcelain cameos, are pieces that reflect on our obsessive drive to capture and collect both the natural and the innate.
Drawing on the history of the gallery garden as part of the Curtis family apothecary, Hanney considers the work of William Curtis, the English botanist and entomologist. Born in Alton in 1746 he worked initially with his apothecary father before an obsession with botany and entomology shaped his career. Curtis established the Lambeth Botanical Garden and published a series of significant papers and journals, including Flora Londinensis, one of the first publications devoted to urban nature.
"As an apothecary, surgeon, and botanist, Curtis devoted his life to unravelling the mysteries of the natural world. His insatiable curiosity and fascination with all living beings and their inner workings served as a wellspring of inspiration for the creative endeavours undertaken in this exhibition.
The ceramic series will strive to remind viewers of the delicate equilibrium between the structured environments we inhabit and the untamed wilderness that envelops us"
Camilla Hanney, 2024
About the Artist
Hanney (b.1992) is an Irish artist working in ceramics, sculpture and installation. She is a Graduate of Goldsmiths University Masters of Fine Art programme (2017-2019) and also Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (Visual Arts Practice 2010-2015). Her work has been exhibited by the South London Gallery in conjunction with Bloomberg New Contemporaries, No. 20 Arts, Muse Gallery, Cromwell Place Gallery and the Cynthia Corbett Gallery. Camilla was the 2019/20 recipient of the Sarabande foundation studio bursary. She was granted the UK Young artist of the year runner up award at its inaugural award ceremony which was held at the Saatchi Gallery. In 2023 Hanney was shortlisted for the prestigious Young Masters Maylis Grand Ceramics Prize.
Our Artist in Residence programme is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We are delighted to have worked with Hanney during 2023 and to present this exciting body of work by a young contemporary artist.
All works are for sale, prices available in the exhibition or please contact allen.gallery@hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk.
