In my Shoes - Gemma Gowland

In my Shoes, by Gemma Gowland, at the Bevere Gallery, Worceser.

Gowland's recent work explores the way girls are constrained from birth to conform to an appearance and code of behaviour to present a perfect face and maintain the expectations of others. The disrupted surfaces describe the vulnerability beneath.

Gowland first trained for a BSc in Engineering Product Design and worked in the fields of industrial design, production and architectural model making before becoming a teacher of Design and Technology. With experience in making and using a very broad range of materials for a wide range of purposes, ceramics became an abiding interest with its unique versatility and surface possibilities.

She has studied ceramic skills and specialisms on a number of courses, before completing the Ceramic Diploma at City Lit, as well as life sculpture and figurative studies. 

Being a mother and daughter as well as a woman working in a male field, has led to an examination of the role of women and how societal norms will shape the way children are raised.

 

 The work is very detailed and fine. Very difficult to handle and move.

Back view

A closer look at those shoes

and again.