((UNEARTHED)) – Harry Payne

((UNEARTHED)) Object(s) is an exploration of the value of past objects within a material-based practice. Described as a referential material language, objects from Ancient Rome, Middle Age Europe and throughout Christianity blend through physical making to create ceramic works that remove themselves from spirituality, aesthetics and function in order to become purely art objects. The high-temperature firing creates a visual link to ancient times but the form doesn’t have the same connection, thus creating a vagueness of origin.

Dirt is used in the work as a material link to the origins of clay but more directly a nod to archaeology and the referential narrative behind the creation of the objects. Cross patterns emerge from the dirt and are based on a common 13th century Christian European pattern. In addition, this is an historical nod removed from its narrative and used as a direct metaphor of an emergence/unearthing of the past. The connection within the work is a structure of nylon rope that weaves among the elements; this explores the ambiguity of past and present value. The combination of traditional and modern materials creates an equality of value. Accompanying ((UNEARTHED)) Object(s) is the text “Notes on Object(s)” which describes (in an abstract format) the contexts and concepts of the ideas and themes of the work.

Harry Payne is multidisciplinary artist based in Chichester, West Sussex. He explores material and historical themes using a mainly sculptural approach focusing of ceramic, textiles and installation. During his BA (Hons) in Fine Art at the University of Chichester Harry developed an artistic understanding that led him to use material to inform his research and his research to inform his material. This approach allows the work to be process-led and historically-led simultaneously opening up the work to a variety of avenues.

Instagram: @hary.art_