Ceramicist Craig Mitchell uses clay to breathe life into surreal comic characters.  He creates a unique world which is inspired by chance comments and encounters in his life.   A touring exhibition of his new work visits Gracefield Art Centre in Dumfries from 18 August to 29 September 2007. 

Philip Hughes, director of the Ruthin Craft Centre, explains the appeal of Craig’s work.

‘It is not often that one feels the need to laugh out loud in a gallery and make no apology for it – however, when confronted by a three-tiered pink-iced cake with spindly legs wearing metal spiked running shoes, being chased by a scooter ridden by a gang of genetically modified vegetables – how else can one respond? Superbly realised in clay – Vigilante Veg was one of Craig Mitchell’s early classic pieces. His humour is almost sardonic and sometimes not that far from slapstick, yet at the core of each work is a strong message. He ridicules conspicuous consumption such as gas-guzzling cars, and sends-up pretentious behaviour by those who regard themselves as holier than though, and creates contemporary fables and dark fairytales in clay – the installation potter beware! Influences seem to range from thirties and fifties book illustration to surreal animation. Raymond Briggs’ snowman series of books come to mind, as does the superb ironic and satirical east European animation – in particular work that emerged from Czechoslovakia in the 1960s and 1970s.’

In the catalogue Moira Vincentelli, senior lecturer at the School of Art, University of Wales, Aberystwyth and Curator of The Ceramic Collection and Archive, Aberystwyth explains how Craig develops his work.

‘The starting point for all his works are notebooks – he is never without one – and he fills about three each year. In these he jots down ideas, sketches figures, and sticks in the occasional cutting from a magazines or advertisement. He is always on the look out for strange things or banal moments that can be transformed into something more momentous, significant or meaningful. Words too can set off a train of thought. He especially loves strange, old-fashioned words – popinjay, mountebank, liminal, or those new fangled words such as multi-tasking, barrista – words loaded with connotations, designed to ring bells or push buttons. His works always have titles, often punning or playful, leading the viewer into the work but without directing the conclusion.

Some of Mitchell’s works relate to personal aspects of his life. The delightfully affectionate Mates-o-matic Penknife is based on the form of a Swiss army knife; portraits of five friends with whom he goes mountain walking are substituted for the different blades or gadgets. Scottish singing oil, by the way, is one friend’s reference to whisky.’

Discussing his own work Craig, who is based in Edinburgh and trained at the University of Sutherland and Royal College of Art, says “My work explores contemporary culture and universal themes but also responds to current events both political and personal.  Everything in my life, every chance comment, every potentially insignificant interaction and childhood memories mixed into the melting pot of my work.  Realising slightly surreal ceramic creations is my way of relating to the increasingly bizarre reality which forms the fabric of our daily lives.  I try to express ideas using humour to ‘sugar the pill’, sometimes creating unlikely scenarios or ridiculous juxtapositions drawing the reader in to these tales with a smile before being faced with a mildly chiding finger.”

The Craig Mitchell exhibition is on at Gracefield Art Centre, 28 Edinburgh Road, Dumfries DG1 1JQ from 18 August to 29 September 2007.  Admission free.   Craig will be talking about his work at the exhibition on Wednesday 5 September 2007 from 5 to 7pm.

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