Meet the Maker: Janet DeBoos
Janet DeBoos is an iconic ceramic artist who has had a profound impact on contemporary craft in Australia. DeBoos is an influential artist, potter and teacher, having been the Head of Ceramics at the Canberra School for Art (ANU) for over a decade.
Peter Haynes writes that: “art for [Janet DeBoos] is a means of exploring the self and placing that self in the world.” Her international practice explores the intricate dialogue between ceramic decoration and cultural expression. DeBoos exhibits regularly in Australia and overseas, represented in major permanent public collections in Australia, UK, Canada, China, Taiwan, Belgium and New Zealand.
Throughout the development of her practice DeBoos has had an ongoing relationship with China, the ancient home of porcelain. Since her first visit in 1996, DeBoos has developed a deep fascination with visual motifs from the peak of Chinese porcelain decoration. Her vessels praise the Australian landscape by reflecting the colours and textures that run through our deserts, whilst also borrowing decorative art conventions from the Qing dynasty.
In her current collaborative exhibition with Wendy Teakel, ‘Intersections’, DeBoos invites audiences to surrender themselves to the mindfulness that can be found in ‘getting lost’. Janet’s year at home in the Australian bush has inspired a collection of work that gathers fresh perspectives about familiar places.
'Intersections’ is now on display at Craft ACT and online until 20 March 2021.