Staff profile

Mr Anthony Thomas Conway

Lecturer, Course co-ordinator (BVA)

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

School of Communication, Arts and Critical Enquiry

Visual Arts Building, Room VA2.20, Bendigo

 

Qualifications

BVA (La Trobe), BVA (Hons-La Trobe).

Membership of professional Associations

Ceramics Victoria.

Area of study

Visual Arts

Brief Profile

The inspiration for my artwork comes from various influences; the primary one is an appreciation the Australian landscape. This unique environment has lead to a strong personal belief in the existence of ‘beauty’. ‘Beauty’ can occur in natural organic or inorganic systems through a combination of factors, such as: form, colour and structure. This notion of ‘beauty’ is informed by my enjoyment of the fired ceramic surface.  The reflection pool refocusses one on the idea that beneath the surface of all things in the world is another world, an inner world or in this case a reflected world, the non - phenomenal world, perhaps a place of contemplation. My slip cast porcelain forms are investigations using ceramic materials. The crystalline surfaces develop a line of inquiry into the use of the minerals that form these glazes that enable a reference of the ‘natural’ world. Through the figurative aspects of the forms, a reference to the human form underpins this inference of a specific cultural viewpoint to the notion of ‘beauty’.

Research interests

Fine Arts

- Application of visual art practice and knowledge to archaeology

Visual Communication

- Identities personal and cultural

Teaching Units

  • VPA1TMA/B - Theory & Methodologies in Studio Practice.
  • VPA2TMC/D - Theory & Methodologies in Studio Practice.
  • VPA3TME/F - Theory & Methodologies in Studio Practice.
  • VPA1MWA/B - Visual Arts Media Workshop.
  • VPA2MWC/D - Visual Arts Media Workshop.
  • VPA3MWE/F - Visual Arts Media Workshop. 

Recent Publications

Adlington B 2007, Glimpse, ‘Inside Gold Coast Art Gallery’s Collection’, Gold Coast City Art Gallery,Qld.

 

Snyder J 2005, ‘Ceramics Today’, Schiffer Pub.Ltd., PA.

 

Exhibitions

 

2009

‘Celebration: A Group of Regional Ceramic Artists’, Curated exhibition held in the Phyllis Palmer Gallery.

 

2009

Ceramics Victoria Inc 40th Anniversary Exhibition. A curated exhibition held at Manningham Gallery.

 

2009

Creative Imperatives. School of Visual Arts & Design Staff exhibition held in the Phyllis Palmer Gallery, La Trobe University.

 

2007

Crust: Examining artists’ approaches to clay surfaces. Touring exhibition in South East Queensland, curated by Gold Coast City Art Gallery.

 

2007

Castlemaine Arts Festival Ceramics Award, Highly commended.

 

2006

‘Impressed’ –VCG group exhibition New Delhi.

Research projects

Research into the aesthetics of crystalline glazes and their use as a metaphor for the natural world and our interpretation of it. Ceramics materials and their application to historic and archaeological sites has enabled work to be done on 14th century Thai ceramic production nodes.