Arnolfini Bristol

Paula Rego

After seeing some pieces by Rego in London I was eager to attend her exhibition in Bristol. Her powerful narratives are captivating and moving. Growing up in a political regime which stripped women of their freedom and rights- women needed a man's permission to even travel- Rego reimagined womens' fate and put them centre stage, drawing light on depression stories of oppression and marginalisation faced by the majority and her personal experiences of this. As I am recalling this, Rego's 'Abortion Series' with the current events in America. It's truly saddening that women are still having the rights over their own bodies taken away by the state today. Rego created this series to document the poor voter turnout to legalise abortion in Portugal in 1998, her prints have since been recognised as making a direct impact to the amendment of this law.

Jugs, Tea cups and Vase process

taking inspiration from victorian style tea sets and vases.

Ancient greek pottery

Pottery of the ancient greeks consists of some of the most distinctive vase shapes from antiquity but it's also one of history's best historical resources for cultural beliefs and practices of the ancient Greeks. Clay was a readily available resource the finest was Attic clay, with its high iron content and distinct orange-red colour. All vessels were thrown on the wheel and usually made in separate sections: the foot, the lower and upper body, the neck, and the handles. These sections were then joined together with slip after drying and usually the prints of the potter can be seen on the inside of the vessel.The piece was then put back on the wheel to smooth the join marks and add the final shaping. The distinct black paint used across ancient greek pottery was a mix of alkali potash or soda, clay with silicon content, and black ferrous oxide of iron. The paint was stuck to the pot using a fixative- urine or vinegar, which burned away in the kiln, binding the paint to the clay. Greeks fired their vessels to around 960 °C; multiple oxidation firings were used as well as reduction to bring out the colours.

Greek pottery consists of a wide range of shapes from cups to plates to massive amphorae, many of the forms remained relatively constant over centuries. This is predominantly because wares were produced for practical use - holding wine, water, oil, and perfumes - so the optimum evolved and was copied and maintained. However, despite this restriction in form, the Greek potters and painters could express their originality in the decoration of the vessels.