An acclaimed artist working with ceramics, Bouke de Vries’ latest work responds to William Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress, and has been beautifully displayed in the Museum’s Foyle Space.
Inspired by Hogarth’s series of original paintings at the Soane Museum, de Vries draws on his love of storytelling, and talent for symbolism through ceramics, with eight newly created porcelain vases presented in various states of (dis)repair. Starting with an immaculate celadon vase, de Vries treats the following seven increasingly deteriorating vases with a variety of restoration processes and glazes, which parallel the moral and physical degeneration of Hogarth’s anti-hero Tom Rakewell. Cracks appear in the surface, the vessels slump and implode – with obvious and drastic methods of repair failing to save the vase or Rake from their ultimate demise.
Image: Sylvain Deleu.
Exhibition events TOP
During the course of this exhibition, we are delighted to offer a variety of tours and talks inspired by the themes of Visions in Porcelain: A Rake’s Progress. Explore the programme below.
13 June Bouke de Vries in conversation with Louisa Buck - tickets
22 June London Festival of Architecture: Exhibition Viewing. Architects’ Houses and Visions in Porcelain: A Rake’s Progres - information
Exhibition Info
10am - 5pm
Free to visit
Sir John Soane's Museum