Yorkshire born, Cornwall based Sam Hall reveals a strong and innovative body of work. He creates pots without practical function and uses ceramic surface as canvas. Of course there’s nothing new about obscuring function for form in the world of ceramic art, yet Hall seems to reach further, attacking his surfaces in a intuitive way. In many senses it defies definition, fluidly approaching the boundaries between art and craft. By defying convention Sam’s work definitely falls into the category of the truly contemporary object.
Throughout the last ten years, form has been the consistent in Hall’s work. the discipline of throwing his cylindrical shapes is integral to his process. Within his work there exists the potting heritage - these are ceramic vessels after all, yet the surface decoration dominates, built up over weeks, with often - applied slips, oxides and glazes and multiple firings.
Drawing on abstract expressionism, the vessels have glazes repeatedly splashed across their surfaces and are gouged, grooved and embellished with random marks using ceramic crayons; fragments of metal are melted into the surface. Drawing and form, in short, co-exists in Hall’s work to create the subtext of tensions.
Justine Gaunt.............Galleries magazine December 2007.