Susannah Montague: The Apparition | Madrona Gallery

Susannah Montague’s work undertakes a radical rethinking of the traditions of classical porcelain, reveling in the exquisite delicacy of the material while exploring its history of ritual, reverence and commerce. Porcelain emerged as a western status symbol during the explosion of trade in the Renaissance, a period that also ushered in the spiritual questioning, exploding globalism, and ambitious empire-building that continue to be powerful influences today – all forces at work in Montegue’s world. Her sculptures deliver a dazzling range of technique, depth of symbolism, storytelling and social commentary.

Montague’s early training in sculpture branched into the study of anatomy, which in turn led to work making props and sculptures for the film industry. Look closely at one of her pieces and you might see both the Messein figures collected by your grandmother and the uncanny transformations of a body horror film. She adds to this a passion for melding art and life: a delicate formation of barnacles on one work comes from her studio on Bowen island, where curiosity moved her to sink sculptures underwater in crab traps for weeks at a time allowing nature to contribute to the composition.