The work explores the way that 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. From the moment we are born gender affects our future, and upbringing influences our adult life Stand up straight, smile nicely, say please.
The masks are cast from a large collection of doll faces, hence they reference childhood and also reflect the way that upbringing entails learning to wear a mask - essential to fit us into society. It can limit or bind, yet can also describe strength, attitude, sisterhood and resistance, the mask as disguise to fit us into the world One eye, one part of us, looks out from the mask - and one sees what is behind. Jemma 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 using a broad range of materials, for a wide range of purposes, ceramics has become the abiding interest with it’s unique versatility and surface possibilities, the technical challenges and opportunities seem endless.
Being a mother, wife and daughter, as well as a woman often working in a largely male field, has led to an examination of the role of the female, and how societal norms can still shape the way children are raised.
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Cynthia Corbett Gallery https://www.thecynthiacorbettgallery.com/ "The Way Home' exhibited as part of the Young Masters Maylis Grand ceramics prize, and has been shown at COLLECT 2024 Emerging Woman Artist Award runner up 2023 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2023 'Facebook Turns 18' multi-part piece Royal Cambrian Academy 2023 Selector's prize COLLECT Open 2022 - 'Lifespan 82.9' Ceramic Art London 2022 & 2024 Contemporary Ceramics Gallery, Great Russel St, London https://www.contemporaryceramics.uk/ Craft Potters Association Selected member Bevere Galleryhttps://beveregallery.com/ Watson Gallery, Edinburgh Kellie Miller Gallery, Brighton now showing in the 'Almanac' exhibition until christmas 2024 Design Nation Memberhttp://designnation.co.uk/profile/jemma-gowland-ceramics/ Member of the Royal Society of Sculptors London Potters Kent Potters Association