Ancient Language of the River
Kate Dorrough
Ancient Language of the River (detail) 2025
Stoneware
Shino glaze and underglaze
34 x 28 x 36 cm
About the Artwork
This vessel, modelled after an ancient container or holder of water, celebrates the potency of the river. Inscribed with a calligraphic language, it speaks of the innate knowledge and rights of the river. The hand-built stoneware ceramic surface, a palimpsest of multiple layering of glaze and numerous firings, becomes a fusion of iron oxide with the clay body and glaze. This layered history acknowledges the need to understand the river in order to work with this vital, cyclical, and elemental force.
About the Artist
Sydney-based artist Kate Dorrough has been exhibiting since 1996, and has held 23 solo exhibitions throughout Australia and over 100 group exhibitions in regional and city galleries. A recent highlight was the touring exhibition Heather + Kate Dorrough: Lineage (2023/2024) at Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Manning Regional Gallery, Tamworth Regional Gallery, and Ararat Galleries.
Kate has been selected for the North Queensland, Gold Coast, and Clunes Ceramic Awards, the Small Sculpture Prize, Ravenswood, Meroogal, Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Award, Still Life Award, and the Australian Ceramic Association’s Course of Objects: the fine lines of inquiry, at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum (2014). Kate exhibited her work and presented a paper at the 2025 Australian Ceramic Triennale, Fremantle. Her ceramic work is held in many regional and university art gallery collections. She is represented by Art House Gallery, Sydney.