Seeing Things

Carpenters Workshop Gallery Paris presents ‘Seeing Things’ by contemporary ceramicist Gareth Mason. For this exhibition, Mason has meticulously crafted significant new large sculptural works, each a testament to his mastery over the medium.

Through a metaphorical cellar termed by Gaston Bachelard, Mason invites us to embrace ambiguity and “unbridle our minds”, much like the sacred caves of our ancestors. “All my pots are flights of fancy,” he says. His pieces echo the fascination for what lies within and beyond – a womb-like, cave-like mystery that captivates our intrigue and wonder. Dark clay blends, enriched with iron – earth’s abundant metallic element – and coarse, rocky inclusions, take centre stage. Some works pay homage to porcelain’s rich history, while others boldly reject it, delving into deep underworlds. Raw geology punctuates Mason’s practice, a nod to the unimaginable forces that shaped both him and the world around us.