Artist Statement
My practice emerges from the historical tradition of utilitarian ceramics which draws decorative inspiration from nature. Enhancing the importance of objects through increased scale, my vessels are given an importance not usually found in our every day lives.
I am currently interested in depicting Australian native species, using the vessel as a surface for painting and narrative. I frequently travel to specific locations to study locally indigenous plants. Trips along the Victorian coast line extending towards New South Wales sparked an interest in the Banksia Serrata and resulted in many drawings and water colour paintings. Spending time in the banksia forest allowed me to observe the plant’s many forms as well as the bird and insect life that supports the environment.
Prior to painting on the clay form, I make detailed water colours on paper of selected plants. I transpose the image onto bone dry, hand built, coiled vessels by applying layers of ceramic stain. Referencing the botanical illustration tradition, I attempt to depict the life cycle of the plant including the bud, flower, birds and occasional pollinating insect to provide a sense of the overall habitat.
My work previously considered the impact of introduced species on the Australian environment; I am now passionately interested in depicting Australia's native environment, particularly at a time when it appears under threat from climate change, bushfire, cyclone and our expanding human footprint.
Fiona Hiscock 2015
CURRICULUM VITAE - FIONA HISCOCK
EDUCATION, TERTIARY
1984 - 1986 BA Melbourne University, Fine Art History
1987 - 1991 BA Fine Art Ceramics, RMIT
1992 - 1993 Post Graduate Honors Degree, Fine Art, (ceramics) RMIT
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1997 Craft Victoria, Melbourne
1998/2000/2003 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
2000/2003/2006/2009/2014 Beaver Gallery, Canberra
2010 Mossgreen Gallery, Melbourne
2011 Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2015 Gallerysmith, Melbourne
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
1993 Fresh, Student Award Exhibition, Craft Victoria
1994/1995/1998 Mornington Peninsula Craft Event, Mornington Arts Centre, VIC
1995/1996/98/2010 Gold Coast Ceramic Art Award, Queensland
1996/1997 Sidney Myer Fund Australia Day Ceramic Award, Shepparton Art Gallery,
1997 Faenza International Ceramic Art Competition, Italy
1997 Moonee Valley Festival Contemporary Craft Exhibition, Essendon, VIC
1997 New Visions, (5 Artists) Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Ballarat, VIC
1999 Drawn in Form, travelling show to Brisbane City Gallery andObject Gallery,
1999 Alice Craft Award, Northern Territory
1999 Blessed be the Work, Jewish Ritual and Contemporary Craft, Jewish Museum VIC
1999 Freeman Gallery 3, Hobart Tasmania
2002 Centenary Craft Prize, Parliament House, Canberra
2002 Alice Springs Craft Award, Alice Springs
2003 Changing Serfaces, Shepparton Art Gallery
2004 Celebrating the Master, Schepsi gallery, Melbourne
2005 Hobart Art Prize, Tasmania
2005 Chilli, Cudgegong Gallery, NSW
2007 New Under the Sun, Jewish Museum of Australia
2009 Town Country, Craft Victoria
2011 Ewers, Pitchers, Jugs and Jars, Narek Gallery, NSW
2013 Sunshine Coast Ceramic Art Prize, Manningham Ceramic Art Prize
2014 Efflorescent, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery
2014 Tribute to Janet Mansefield, Mossgreen Gallery
2014 The Course of Objects, Manly Regional Art Gallery
2014 Big Ceramics, Craft Victoria
2015 Victorian Craft Award, Craft Victoria
REVIEWS
Ceramics, Art and Perception Issues 11 and 30
The Age Newspaper Jenny Zimmer, 14/12/93, 4/1/94, 3/3/94, 1/2/96,28/5/97
House and Garden Magazine “6 Rising Stars”, December 1996
Business Review Weekly “New Handle on Old Aesthetics Problem”, Anna Long, 12.5.97
Herald Sun Newspaper “The Vases that Fiona Built”, Claire Sutherland, , 10.5.97
Masters of their Craft, Noris Ioannou, Craftsman House, 1997
The Age Newspaper “Size with Attitude” Zinta Jurjuans-Heard , 29.4.98
The Age Newspaper “Artists in Residence”, Denise Ryan, Domain magazine, 29.7.98
The Australian Newspaper, Weekend Review “Objects of Desire” Jo Litson, 20.6.98
Herald Sun Newspaper “Fruits of an Urban Shed”, Simon Plant, 3.10.98
The Canberra Times May 30, 2009
The Canberra Times July 2014
AWARDS AND COLLECTIONS
1991 Walker Ceramics Prize for Excellence to a student at RMIT
1991 National Gallery Society of Victoria Award, RMIT
1996 Gold Coast Ceramic Art Merit Award - purchased for the Gallery Collection
1997 Moonee Valley Festival Contemporary Craft Award
1997 Alice Springs Art Award
1997 Shepparton Regional Art Gallery Collection
1997 Deakin University Collection
1998 Ballarat Fine Art Gallery Collection
1998 Queensland University of Technology Collection
2001 and ‘07 Jewish Museum of Australia Collection
2001 Parliament House Collection
2002 and 2003 Artist in residence, Hill End, NSW
2014 and ’15 Artist in residence, Flemington Primary School
