Darren Keith

I work in a range of mediums and techniques.  I have always been a figurative artist and when I was young, I taught myself how to draw through the study of comic book superheroes and drawing has always been there for me, even in dreams I have drawn. Through observing the human person and exploring the history of man from which I gain inspiration for many of my works. I look at the way the human-body moves within its environment, the way we interact with one another and especially the cultural and spiritual diversities that we each practice.

Through observation of those diversities, there is always an encyclopedia of visual material that I can use to create compositions of visual culture. The world has changed dramatically over the past hundred years; through large migrations of multi-cultured people.  I think it’s refreshing to experience all these amazing cultures, their food, their music and especially their art.

One of my passions is working within the medium of clay and in particular the raku process. The use of figurative forms in my clay constructions have always been an on going presence, I suppose they portray human rituals and create the connection between present and past, the way we have always shown stories or patterns on utilitarian objects, whether it’s a vessel or a cell-phone. The responsiveness of clay beneath my hands is deeply satisfying when married to the artistic concept or idea I am exploring.  It is this process that ultimately informs the end result and leaves a visual path of creation for the viewer to follow.

Clay is a living organism and continues to live as an art form with both functional purpose or as sculptural beauty. 

 

Darren Keith