Ceramic Sculpture - Theseus Enters The Labyrinth Sculpture

Theseus is known as a unifying king and the founder of Athens. Of his many heroic adventures one of the most famous is his battle with the Minotaur in the Labyrinth. Ariadne made it possible for Theseus to defeat the Minotaur by supplying him with weapons and string. She explained how the string could be used to find his way out of the Labyrinth. As soon as Theseus entered the Labyrinth, he tied one end of the ball of string to the doorpost and readied his sword. Theseus followed Ariadne’s instructions to: “go forwards, always down, and never left or right.” He came to the heart of the Labyrinth where he found the Minotaur sleeping. The beast awoke and a tremendous fight took place. Theseus defeated the Minotaur with his strength and killed him with his sword. What an adventure!

Classical Greek Art, Literature, History, Myths and Legends and the many traditions of Ancient Greece have always fascinated me. Ancient Greek vases and the wonderful collection in the British Museum in London give great enjoyment and suggest endless opportunities for creativity. They depict fabulous stories of Gods, heroes and many characters and the adventures they undergo exploring universal themes just as relevant today.

The sculptures are made with a direct honesty to the nature of the material. Clay is a wonderful material that can be pulled, squashed, shaped and squeezed. It takes an impression like no other material and, being a basic "earth" material, it is a joy to work with. Natural and manufactured objects are used to make impressions and produce strong textures. The work shows the way as it progresses into a finished piece. The hand becomes as important as the eye and the mind.

The nature of the clay and the design means there are lumps and bumps and various marks. This rugged affect is all part of the charm of the work.

I use white stoneware clay and make using slab and coil building techniques. The work is then fired twice in an electric kiln, the second firing to over 1200c. Decorated with oxides, engobes and glazes.

Lovely to hold – they have a great “feel” about them.

Each piece is hand built and totally unique. Suitable for interior and exterior locations.

Signed underneath with my signature stamp. Certificate of Authenticity included.

Any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.