SFOSSILS
by
MIKE SEYMOUR
PAEAN
The 'Paean' series of works typifies Sfossils empirical explorations and situates itself within the context and history of ceramic materials and processes. Its inspiration draws from the sudden renaissance of domestic ceramic pottery. Pottery is a regionally significant industry of the western Canadian coastal landscape where the artist currently works resulting in ready access to resources and historical knowledge. 'Paean' is a hands-on study of this shared way of making, thinking, and social organization of this craft. Through this, Mike Seymour is exploring both the textural/material and the spiritual/non-physical specificity of the landscape of this place.
'Paean' emphasizes the shared and cooperative nature in ceramics as a way of making as well as the paired compositional strategy of individual pieces. Each individual stem contains a light, that cascades down the textured surface of the nearby clustered pieces, highlighting and transforming the works during the dark. Originally conceived of as grand cascading chandeliers, have just been developed as freestanding sculptural floor-lamp-like columns.
COLLECTION FOR STUDIO RÖ
On the occasion of Studio RÖ’s exhibition during Mi-Art 2025, Mike Seymour created two specific versions of his free-standing sculptural lights for Sfossils. Concieved as siblings, these two pieces have a uniquely textured metal armature created by spraying molten copper on stainless steel tubing. An almost sand-like texture is softened with simple white painted finish. For these pieces, a specific glaze was developed which almost resembles goosebumps. Mainly white, when light cascades down the surface of the stem, the extremely fine texture is revealed to be created by extremely small mist-like dots of glaze.
The larger piece, Paean Studio RÖ 6, consists of six stems that are all identically glazed - the simularity brings out the pronounced differences between seemingly identical pieces - is revealing a secret. The smaller sibling Paean Studio RÖ 3 consists of three obviously different pieces, created with the addition of a glaze that foams, and a glaze that forms a crater-like surface - this work has nothing to hide.
The artworks are on view during all exclusive Studio Rö events. Feel free to contact us for any questions or information.