Moon-grubs (a juvenile form of invertebrate, amphibious gastropod) are rarely (if ever) found outside one’s imagination. Their common name is derived from the subtle luminescence of their exterior, and from their medley of crescent-shaped folds. Best observed in the shade, the self-content quality of their round, upturned faces is said to reflect the blissful effects of moon-bathing. Such a gentle, biophilic disposition makes them excellent company for humans.
Narelle White is a contemporary Australian artist working in clay, with a particular focus on sculptural artefacts, durational objects, installation and image. Her artworks are a playful and alluring amalgam of geologic and bio-morphic references, and speak to a spirited relationship between people and place. Critically informed by new and indigenous materialisms, she is alive to the feminist and ecological implications of rethinking our relationships with matter. She often works in clay-bodies of her own invention, as a strategy for exploring the animacy of matter.
White holds a BA, MA and BFA (Hons) and has studied in Australia, The Netherlands and the United States. An alumni of the European Keramic Work Centre and Ian Potter Cultural Trust, she has produced sculptural editions for local and international institutions. Recent projects include Speculative Materialisms, Craft and Design Canberra (2024); Soft Speech, McClelland Sculpture Park+Gallery (2023); Tiny Wonders, Bundoora Homestead Art Centre (2022) and Unpredict: Imagining Future Ecologies, Ian Potter Museum (2022).
Ceramics