Architectural Forms Meet Tactile Play in Bruce Rowe’s Latest Exhibition.

Photography: Tatjana Plitt.

In an era dominated by digital interfaces, Melbourne artist Bruce Rowe’s latest exhibition ‘Alter’ arrives as a breath of fresh air. Opening this December at The Front Room Gallery, this innovative show features 280 unique ceramic sculptures that invite us to reconnect with the joy of physical interaction through art.

The exhibition presents 80 meticulously crafted sets, each comprising three to five sculptures on a ceramic plinth. Drawing from architectural elements, the works explore familiar forms—towers, grids, columns, walls, and bridges—transformed through Rowe’s distinctive sculptural language.

“A language of structured forms runs throughout my practice,” Rowe explains. “Does a tower represent aspiration or isolation? Does a stair symbolise an ascent or descent? I am deeply interested in the threshold or liminal spaces between these dualities.”

The creation process, unfolding over several months, demonstrates Rowe’s sophisticated understanding of his medium. “Clay is at once an immovable, weighted presence, unfettered by any attempt to impose one’s will upon it. However, it is also soft, open and light, willing to transform at the slightest touch,” he shares.

Each piece showcases remarkable technical prowess through the use of engobes— thin layers of clay mixed with other materials that create rich tonal variations. The palette spans from ethereal off-whites and subtle lemon yellows through to deep olive greens, iron reds, and sophisticated blackened bronze, developed through months of experimentation.

The Front Room’s director, Jaci Foti-Lowe, brings a personal perspective to the exhibition’s interactive nature. “I have five pieces that Bruce gifted me—they are always somewhere nearby, rearranged by the children or guests who find them intriguing. For me, in our crazy busy lives, this moment of secret play is a gift.”

Each sculpture was crafted through direct engagement with clay, with the creation process unfolding over the course of a year. “Time to think, time to focus, time to make, time for the process of working with the material to unfold,” Rowe reflects.

The collection connects to Rowe’s earlier work while pushing into new territory. “Whilst Alter is its own project, it is connected to Scape in that the works are touched, used and experienced. The physicality of making and working directly with material and the exploration of structured forms with a diversity of symbolic meanings are also held in common, “ he says.

The scale of each set makes Alter approachable and accessible. First reactions are already hinting at multiple acquisitions to enable further play and mixing of colours. Foti-Lowe has her own vision for these works: “I am in the process of designing our family home and this collection will define our entry. Five sets across the colours, one for each member of the family, will sit on an entry table for all to engage with. When our children leave, their set will go with them to carry the memory of our home into theirs.”

‘Alter’ opens at The Front Room Gallery in Richmond on December 4, 2024, and runs until December 14. Each set is individually numbered and signed by the artist, making this collection an accessible entry point for collectors and design enthusiasts.

Interview: Bruce Rowe of Anchor Ceramics.

"If I had any advice to offer emerging designers it would be to slow down, listen, and focus on the work… everything else is just everything else."

[Images courtesy of Bruce Rowe. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.]