- Venue
- Surface Gallery
- Location
- East Midlands
Stories and dreams from Ethiopian origins form the basis of these intriguing ceramics, which Elshaday Berhane insists be judged on an emotional level rather than equate it with the exhibition title ‘Golly’, shown at the Surface Gallery, Nottingham (organised by the Art Exchange and curated by Michael Forbes).
Turning the negative term of ‘Golly’ on its head and creating a positive portrayal, these silver stoneware ceramics playfully suggest the female form dancing and enjoying life. In contrast the large black figures painted on the walls project sinister shadows that dominate these medium sized silver ceramic figures.
Circles of energetic morphed ceramics, which have complex figurative shapes she has successfully managed to capture a real sense of motion as the comic-like features suggest dualism and change.
There is also a spiritual presence with their smiling bellies combined with multiple arms and empty hands that stretch out into the environment emanating the Hindu God ‘Shiva’ waiting to receive gifts. These carefully moulded doll’s hands grasping or letting go, like a child at play, project innocence yet a mischievous need to be held. Stark nudity suggests a sensual reference leaning towards the erotic. Although this is not intentional, what Elshaday points out is that she enjoys capturing the detail of broken bits of toys and hand-building these pieces in clay as an expression of what she feels about her environment today.
Have we forgotten how to play?
Elshaday is comfortable with her identity and does not relate to the history of the Golly as a negative exaggerated portrayal of Black people. But she does not negate the racial impact it has had historically on people of African and Caribbean descent. This background does give an intentional edge when viewing the work.
For the work to have feminist connotations is also to not see the work for what it is. Elshaday draws inspiration from her environment, striving for a safe environment in an unsafe world where even play can be a difficult pastime. Her ceramics draws us into her world of protection and escaping the confines of unsafe surroundings. And those arms are personal embraces which reach out for us to dance our fears away and enjoy life although shadows closely follow us around.
[1] Golly – A racial term taken from the word ‘gollywog,’ which is a negative image, soft toy with negative exaggerated lips and hair stereotyping Black People. Often the word was used to describe people of African/African-Caribbean descent. This toy is now banned. The word ‘golly’ can also be used to describe the expression of enjoyment and surprise.
