Exhibitions: Rachel Kneebone: Regarding Rodin

Rachel Kneebone: The Descent

Kneebone models her porcelain and gives it a preliminary (bisque) firing before applying a clear glaze and returning it to her kiln for the final firing. In response to heating and cooling, the material shrinks, ruptures, and cracks, further transforming the piece. For larger works such as this one, each section is produced separately, and the overall structure must allow for the unpredictability of porcelain. Here, the irregular spacing between pieces echoes the cracks within each section, intensifying the downward thrust of the work.