Reverence to the Bull

Arriving this week at Michael Reid Sydney and now available to preview by request, Reverence to the Bull is a stunning new collection of lithe and lyrical sculptures brought to life by celebrated contemporary artist Fliss Dodd.

This latest series sees the introduction of ultramarine and glittering gold details to the artist’s wonderfully charismatic, elegantly abstracted, voluptuous bovine figures. Once reserved for royalty and sacred customs, these rich, jewel-like tones now adorn select pieces by Dodd, playing out alongside her signature palette of earthy terracotta and monochrome clay to evoke a sense of reverence and celebration.

Arriving after her tremendously successful, sell-out solo show at our Murrurundi gallery, this is Dodd’s first exhibition at our flagship Sydney exhibition space – a shift that has been met with a suitably ambitious body of work that expands the creative scope of her practice while remaining true to the sculptural signatures that have cemented her name at the forefront of the contemporary ceramics field.

“I use hand-rolled slabs of clay that are bent, folded and formed to create undulating curves,” says Dodd, whose work nods to the colourful adornment of bulls in Indian festivals. “The curves speak to the fluidity of movement and the strength found in balance. I carve small intricate, meticulous marks to music, adding an element of rhythm to the form and enhancing its beauty”.

Select pieces have been embellished with highly ornate patterned plinths – their carvings inspired by traditional textiles – and each bull is adorned with its own unique gilding. Dodd’s manner of working is best described as deeply intimate, rhythmic and thoughtful. Her work for this exhibition is a meditation on ritual, strength, beauty, balance, festivity, curiosity and quiet.

The artist fell in love with hand-building techniques under the tutelage of Hiroe Swen after completing studies in ceramics at ANU in the mid-1990s. Now living outside Berry on Yuin country, NSW, the artist has perfected this process with singular panache, imbuing each work with its own distinct personality while drawing on her deep fascination with other cultures.

Each work is enriched with delicate, intricately detailed carvings that evoke a sense of softness, warmth and harmony. These small, rhythmic, meditative markings are in sync with the musicality and movement of her pieces as they dance between gravitas and grace, high volume and quietude, elegance and idiosyncrasy.

To preview and acquire works by Fliss Dodd, please email colinesoria@michaelreid.com.au