MAGDALENE ODUNDO: MASTER CERAMICIST
By Margaretta wa Gacheru
Published in Daily Nation, Nairobi, April 24, 2012
Her hand-sculpted vessels are worth tens of
thousands of dollars, yet the world-acclaimed Kenyan ceramicist Magdelene
Odundo refuses to talk about money. She’s more inclined to talk concepts rather
than hard cash, aesthetics rather than rates of exchange, despite the fact that
her vessels have been viewed, sold and placed in permanent collections, both
public and private, all over the world.
In Kenya recently to attend the African Heritage 40th
anniversary celebration and to receive an AH Lifetime Achievement Award, she’s
one of the few Kenyans to have also received an O.B.E. (Order of the British
Empire) from the Queen of England.
Born in Nairobi and raised in Mombasa, far away from
Bunyale where her family originally comes from and where there’s a long tradition
of women potters. Yet her knack for creating incredible pots might well be in
the genes, since that might explain why/how this world renowned potter makes
pots considered not simply utilitarian containers but refined works of art,
vessels valued for their beauty, delicacy and grace.
The artist herself claims she is influenced far more
by history and antiquity than genetics. The key to her creativity is
inspiration, be it in the form of a book or a walk on the beach or a trip back
home to Kenya from her current base in the UK.
“My work is often thematically conceived so that
I’ll create a series of ceramics based on an idea that excited me,” says the
senior professor at…. Where she supervises post-graduate students of ceramics.
”Occasionally, I will throw clay on a potter’s
wheel, but all my [highly-prized] work is ‘hand-built’ and highly polished,”
says Magdalene whose vessels all display a patina that has a sheen and
distinctive glow that one might imagine is due to a glaze. But no, she says
none of her vessels are glazed.
and
‘hand-built’—not made with a wheel and not glazed….just highly polished with a
patina that is rarefied and distinct and delicate.
Part of the opening night proceedings…she came
especially from south Hampton where she has her studio and teaches, is a
professor…who lectures in…. and makes pots
every chance she gets. Ie when she is not doing exhibitions all over the
world
Accepting invitations to do exhibitions either in
asia, Europe or America or Africa…
Her vessels reside in museums, galleries,
universities all over the world, from the Smithsonian in dc. To the
metropolitan in ny to the british museum in London and the …of toyko…. All over
Europe and states…
With 2 agents represetnting her. One in santa
Barbara, the other in Brussels:
She loves what she does, yet she didn’t start off as
a potter but a painter trained at loreto convent limuru by great nun….then to Cambridge ollege of fine
art…commercial art for a time, then back to school…royal academy and pots….also
print making and…
I’ thought iw ould go into sculpture,,,, which in a
sense, she did…sculpted pots each distinctive and delicate: which is why the
one in the African heritage show is \under glass’ it is so precious…
She loves what she does…doesn’t get personal about
her life only her art.
Her art very personal, immediate, refined just like
the woman who has been coming back to Kenya regularly since 19856 when first
exhibitied with carol and angela at un women’s decade exhibiton at African
heritage.
Since then back back back…..collaboration between ku
and uk school…
She loves to teach to share ideas, concepts,
appraisal, appreiciation with post graducates…
Back to uk but will be back soon….otherwise to be in
her studio
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