BLACK AND WHITES

Brennan is doing some very cutting edge work here with his combination of social icons and printed images with historically "traditional" ceramic forms - cups and bowls. His craftsmanship is undeniable and his image selection is both bold and thought provoking. Historically, wheel thrown ceramics have been valued for their symmetry and uniformity – unfortunately this has driven much of western society to value the flawless slip cast pieces mass produced for kitchens around the world. In this set, Brennan’s pieces are referencing that mass production of slip cast porcelain pottery but with a radical, unique twist that reminds us of the handmade qualities.

This set functions in a way not unlike the work of Andy Worrall in regards to Brennan’s consumerism references and commentary on the mass production of consumer durables. Brennan has moved away from the emotionally charged work of the abstract expressionists; instead he is using these repetitive forms to comment on this fundamental quality of ceramics as an art form - consumerism. The images he imposes on his forms – X’s and O’s, hello kitty, the logo for a punk band – are harsh in contrast to the smooth white glaze that adorns the form – qualities that often appear in modernist painting and sculpture. Each of the pieces in this series serves to remind the holder of the world they live in – that it is one dominated by cultural icons and mass consumerism.