Daphne Corregan (1954) was born in the United States and studied at an art academy in the south of France, where she still lives. A beautiful interplay of inspiration and technique is realized in Daphne Corregan’s work. Her sculptures command attention, not because of their size or controversial design, but through the bold forms combined with deep colors.
The ceramic pieces in this exhibition at Terra Delft Gallery vary in themes, from architectural work to three-dimensional impressions of still-lifes by, for instance, Morandi and Picasso. Daphne Corregan draws inspiration from art history and contemporary events; she shows her engagement with the world around her. We see here a collection which shows both abstraction and free realism. There are architectural wall pieces in which the abstract work becomes part of the space around it through the effects of shadow and light. The still lifes in pot and bottle forms are so unique in their form and simplicity that, together with their attached base, they actually become abstract. The forms are directly derived from existing and recognizable subjects.
Color and decoration are meaningful elements; they are Corregan’s signature. The colors and patterns are applied in soft, matte tints and glaze is seldom used. The tints of the decoration vary from green to blue and black, and the color of the underlying material, the clay, is a self-evident part. This clay is red-firing earthenware or white porcelain. The decorations are often inspired by patterns on textiles. The source of this inspiration in color and patterns is Corregan’s many world travels, including to Africa and China. On one series of work she has literally left her fingerprints in different tints as a diverse community of imprints.
This collection remains in the mind’s eye long after viewing, and despite the modest proportions it gives a monumental ceramic impression. All of the work is handmade and unique; some pieces are part of a series. Ceramics – fired clay – is a material that lends itself to an endless array of applications, as shown by this exhibition.
