I use clay as a metaphorically expressive material. It is employed to construct aggregates, masses - crowds of individuals, which together, form larger entities. The process of making these masses is often repetitive and also mediative. The Configuration of the crowds of figures I mould are crucial to expressing my concerns about culture, identity and the internal structure of the self.

Primarily I create numbers of human figures from clay. Each is press-moulded and shaped to retain similarities in size but differences in individual stance and therefore expression. The configuration of these crowds of particle-people is an important element within this practice. I have begun to examine a visual territory that spans two polarites;tightly joined crowds that lose their individuality within a mass, and loosely gathered crowds of individuals where the overall form is less apparent. Structure is the key word here - I examine the possibilites latent in a number of structural models. These range from lattices to stacked bricks to tightly packed masses, to grids. Each particular structure is a metaphorical translation of the structure of the crowd.

The crowds within an individual and an individual within a crowd; How do these two paradoxical structures correlate? This is the main area of enquiry that my studio practice has encircled. I have looked at the possible ways of expressing the interconnected crowd being composed of solitary individuals, while at the same time giving a sense of the community within one person. A community of sub-personalities, memories, DNA, cultural idioms. What structure might these sub-elements form if they could be seen visually. In close conjunction with my theoretical research during my MA ceramics into subdivision of the self exposed by philosphers and psychologists in the twentieth centry, I have developed a visual language specific to ceramics to express pluralism and multiplicity.

This interest in plurality opens out to question the nature of cultural identity, specifically my own, which has a multiplicity of origins, but which is also essentially very English. I think this is a culture rooted in liberalism - that is, broad minded and tolerant, yet some how questionable. Empathy understanding and inclusion are very much encouraged in our society. This openness to other-ness, seeing the many possible truths within the issues or situations, creates complexity within the structure of the self. We aspire to learn of other cultures within our society and sometimes absorb their ideas. Cultures in proximity influence each other - multiply each others influences.

In a sense we are terminals for a vast array of ideas and emotions from different sources. We have become plural beings, fluid living systems, adopting and discarding various viewpoints, characteristics, ideas, opinions - and yet remain standing. While moving towards celebrating this characteristic openness, I am also pointing towards the more uneasy side of this which is a loss of boundaries to the self and a less easily identifiable core.

If you wish to receive a price for any of the sculptures photographed above please contact thjbarnett@yahoo.co.uk