Ashraf Hanna

Ashraf Hanna at the Stratford Gallery, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Hanna's minimal, elegant vessels are slab built. They are exquisite. I visited the gallery one week after the exhibition opened, and the vast majority of his vessels had already sold - only 7 of the most expensive had been left. It is not surprising.

Artist's statement from his website:

'I am an Egyptian born British artist, currently resident and working from my studio in Pembrokeshire, West Wales...

The mark making is now a direct interaction between the hand and a lump of clay, fingers are no longer just used to hold the pencil but to exact an immediate gesture manipulating the solid mass of clay.... These very tools - our fingers - become an integral part of appreciating ceramics forms when we approach them as an audience, connecting both maker and observer... When we make, the physicality of an object is a manifestation of thoughts and emotions that we experience, a celebration of the marriage of ideas and skill. An object in my opinion should have a physical presence that invites a response on a number of levels, emotional as well as intellectual'.

Deer

More ceramics at the Bevere gallery

A look at the ceramics in the Bevere gallery in Worcester, a purchase, and lunch - a very satisfying day.

Sally MacDonell:

At this point, my Canon S100 stop functioning. This is the 4th time in 18 months. Aaarghhhh!. It's my favourite camera. It's been repaired three times, the first with payment, the other two without. By this time everything inside the camera had been replaced. This fourth time it was too much. I took it to the shop just to show them, not expecting another repair, but they suggested having another look. I have been extremely impressed with the customer service offered by Camera Exchange in Leamington. I would not have bothered as I think it's doomed, but I just love this little camera. 

The rest of the photographs in this post were taken with Ken's iPhone.

Akiko Hirai:

Kyra Cane:

Graham Williamson:

Christy Keeney:

Cyclist

Bass Player

Lara Scobie:

Unknown: no information on the makers for the ceramics below, and the gallery was too busy for me to ask.

Feeding time...

in Stratford-upon-Avon.

George Condo

George Condo at the Cycladic Museum, Athens.

Condo is interested in recording the experience of sensory overload, angst and social paralysis that are the characteristics of 21st century living. Combining elements of Cubism, Surrealism, notions of high and low art, abstraction versus figuration and often the grotesque and humorous side of life, Condo's ultimate goal is that of portraying the complexity of the human mental state of our times.

Paper Faces, 1997, (acrylic, oil and paper)

Paralytic Robot, 2014, (oil on linen)

Self-Portrait in Paris, 2017, (acrylic on linen)

I, Myself and Him, 2017, (acrylic and silver)

Self-Portrait in Paris, 2017, (acrylic on linen)

Self-Portrait in Paris, 2017, (acrylic and silver)

On the Waterfront (Charlie), 2012

Internal World, 2005, (oil on canvas)

looking closer

Portrait of Dakis Ioannou and Maurizio Catellan, 2006, (oil on canvas)

Young Woman with Pearl Necklace, 2005

Full Sweep, 2011, (acrylic, charcoal and pastel on linen)