I am not a fan of the over-elaborate, of anything which I put into the category of encrusted, and so I was not eager, but simply curious to see the exhibition based on the quality normally found at the Crafts Study Centre. I was so pleased that I made the effort, because although still not my favourite ceramics, there is something vitally compelling about the power in these pieces. They are very obviously personal expressions of strong emotion. At the very least teapots with attitude!
By taking a traditionally functional object and riffing on that theme, anthropomorphising it, stretching credibility, a cheeky joy is evoked, and even more, I found them thought-provoking.
Although I could feel the power of the brighter, elaborately coloured works, like the Doodle plate above, my preferred pieces were the 'duller' more sculptural ones made later in his short career, when AIDS had made an impact on his friends' and his lives.
This piece above in the V&A collection appeals to me more - but I surprised myself by how drawn I was to the work as a whole. This is not only the result of such a powerful expression of personality, but also the excellence of presentation. A solo exhibition is a wondrous vehicle for examining an artist's work on their own terms.
I could not find images online of the pieces I responded to most in the exhibition - probably because the pieces in the show are mostly from Suttie's own collection. But I found several examples which I think show his style.
Suttie also made ceramic rings - decorative knuckle dusters. In the exhibition there is a photograph of dancer/choreographer Michael Clark wearing one.
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