POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

'Keep Social Distance' by Sassy Park

Object No. 2020/83/1

This hand-painted wall plate is part of a set of three plates made by Sassy Park to document her experience as a ceramic artist working in Sydney during the COVID-19 pandemic. As artworks made in response to an extraordinary event necessitating self-isolation, social distancing and other profound life changes, the plates not only record a difficult period in Park's life, but are also emblematic of the challenges faced by the wider community affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Conceptually, the plates draw on a great ceramic tradition of plates made for display and occasional use to mark personal and social events - from the intimacies of everyday life to major public events and national calamities. The long history of European commemorative wares stretches from the motto plates of Tudor England and 16th century Italian narrative maiolica, to Dutch and English blue-and-white ceramics (Delftware) from the 1650s and 1700s, and the transferware of the 1900s. When Sassy Park made the plates in July 2020, she wrote: 'Commemorative plates are traditionally souvenirs that mark royal weddings, baby's births or other major events. Playing with this genre of domestic ceramics, my current Isolation Plates memorialise the current situation we find ourselves in, the COVID-19 pandemic. During recent months, I've stayed at home working in my studio. Exhibition deadlines, opportunities and residencies have been delayed, postponed and reset in ongoing uncertainty whilst I watch the news both locally and internationally. Talking with friends and acquaintances has revealed a range of different interpretations on how to react to the public health messaging. Plates are loaded with associations of domesticity and the intimacies of home life. In a work such as 'Keep social distance (2020)' a plate gives the sense of conviviality and togetherness which contrasts to this works ironic message… Each of us however can bring our own meaning to these ambiguous messages. In the same manner we have individually interpreted the ambiguous and often conflicting public health messages during the pandemic.' [1] 1. Artist statement, correspondence with curator, 2020. Eva Czernis-Ryl, Curator, 2020