Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 145

Siphoned Modernism

Vessel
2001 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The artist has described this work as follows:
"This piece was made in response to the revival of Modernist design in contemporary ceramic craft. The characteristic white surface and simplified form echoes this fashion. The recycling and siphoning of this original visionary movement and the revivalist creative desperation is alluded to by the symbolism of the bucket as receptacle and the medicinal piping."


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSiphoned Modernism (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, handbuilt, with white glaze and polythene pipe
Brief description
'Siphoned Modernism', earthenware bucket-shaped vessel with white glaze and polythene pipe, made by Richard Slee, Brighton, 2001
Physical description
Earthenware bucket-shaped form with white glaze. Handbuilt. The join between walls and lower section left rough. A polythene pipe attached to an opening near the base of the form loops back to sit loosely inside the vessel.
Dimensions
  • Overall, including diameter of pipe height: 47cm
  • Approximate, including curvature of pipe width: 45.5cm
  • Depth: 28.5cm
  • Vessel only height: 44.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'RICHARD / SLEE' (Written in blue)
  • 'RS500 / £3000' (Written on paper label)
Credit line
Given by the artist
Object history
Historical significance: Richard Slee offered the following statement about "Siphoned Modernism" when it was shown at the Crafts Council Shop at the V&A in 2005:
"This piece was made in response to the revival of Modernist design in contemporary ceramic craft. The characteristic white surface and simplified form echoes this fashion. The recycling and siphoning of this original visionary movement and the revivalist creative desperation is alluded to by the symbolism of the bucket as receptacle and the medicinal piping."
Summary
The artist has described this work as follows:
"This piece was made in response to the revival of Modernist design in contemporary ceramic craft. The characteristic white surface and simplified form echoes this fashion. The recycling and siphoning of this original visionary movement and the revivalist creative desperation is alluded to by the symbolism of the bucket as receptacle and the medicinal piping."
Bibliographic reference
See Ceramics and Glass Collection Object Information file
Collection
Accession number
C.67-2005

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Record createdApril 3, 2006
Record URL
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