Surfacing by Moraig McKenna

Surfacing.

What’s on the surface is a manifestation of what lies within. Like human skin or a landscape; surfaces map experience and the passage of time. The surface tells the story of an object through its marks and scars.

The surface of my work is marked and textured, layered with slip and glaze, salt and ash. Through the process of making and firing some layers are revealed and some are obscured. These surfaces tell of my experience working with clay, my response to the material and of the ceramic traditions that influence and inform my work.

The mark of my hand is evident in this work. For me these marks are a connection between my hand as the maker and the hand of the imagined user.

- Moraig McKenna, 2024

Surfacing is a solo exhibition by Gundaroo artist Moraig McKenna. 

Moraig has been working with clay for over 30 years and for the majority of that time her focus has been on wood fired pottery in long firing Anagama style kilns and wood fired salt kilns.

In 2001 she received a Master of Arts by research as part of which she developed a porcelain clay body specifically for wood firing Research into porcelain in wood and salt firing continues to be a rich and rewarding part of her practice.

Moraig has travelled extensively internationally, speaking at conferences, conducting workshops and exhibiting most recently in China but also in Singapore, the United States, and Korea.

Her work is held international and national private and public collections including the Canberra Museum and Gallery.

 Photographs by David Paterson.