Tow the Line II

Opening next week at Michael Reid Southern Highlands, Tow the Line II is an exciting new exhibition of boldly original works by celebrated ceramic artist Jennifer Oh. The show brings together a dazzling suite of talismanic, torus-shaped sculptures and eye-catching geometric vessels adorned with striking and ultra-stylish graphic motifs.

Born in the Philippines, raised in Australia and now based between Rome and Sydney following a period spent in London, Oh’s practice is informed by her globetrotting background and the various built environments she has encountered across different states and hemispheres.

Among the optically charged elements playing out across Tow the Line II is an array of zigzagging patterns reminiscent of 1960s Op Art, 1980s Memphis Design, nautical fashions and the dazzle camouflage of World War I battleships.

“The series references the initial nautical inspiration for the works, taken from the dazzle ships that first appeared in WWI,” says the artist. “Stripes as a motif, with their medieval connotations of deviance, have taken a journey towards more ambiguous realms that perhaps these days conjure up sartorial playfulness or seaside gaiety.”

In 2023, Oh received a highly commended nod in the Ceramics Arts Queensland Siliceous Award for her work The Long Tether. This award celebrates excellence and innovation in the world of ceramics, drawing talented artists from all corners of the country.

“I mainly consider my work as investigations into the intersection of form and function. My work is rooted in the traditional aspects of the craft in terms of technique and construction; although my aim is for these vessels to be attributed emblematic properties, whether they be extraordinary, banal, or personal.”