PRESS RELEASE
19 | 10 | 21
Time For Tea
1stDecember 2021 to 6thJanuary 2022
Porcelain teapot and yunomi with rattan handle by Hugh West
In a unique exhibition for Christmas, Whitewater Contemporary presentsTime For Tea, an exhibition inspired by our nation's love of tea. The exhibition leads with a collection of 25 teapots by potter Hugh West, who celebrated his 50thyear in ceramics this autumn.Since the start of his career in the 1970s Hugh has made thousands of teapots, supplying designer outlets such as Harrods, Heals, Liberty of London and John Lewis.
The process of making a handmade teapot is lengthy and requires skill, as the teapot must be beautiful, functional and pour well. Hugh's porcelain teapots are hand-thrown on the wheel, and each handle is custom made in clay or Rattan with raffia fixings. In addition, each of the teapots in this exhibition is accompanied by a tea bowl or ‘yunomi', the traditional, Japanese teacup that fits snugly and comfortingly in both hands without a handle. "Each teapot should have its very own tea, so that in time the teapot takes on the unique characteristics of its particular variety" says Hugh: accordingly, this collection is designed to celebrate the flavours and scents of tea varieties from around the world, including Jasmine, Oolong, Yunnan, Rose, hand rolled Green and White Tea, and a special Green Tea grown by Hugh's long-time friend and respected Korean potter, Seungho Yang.
Also on show alongside Hugh's works are specially commissioned teapot paintings by various artists including Caroline Cleave, Sarah Seddon, Sally Spens, Suki Wapshott, who was recently selected for the Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition at Mall Galleries London, and Simeon Stafford, whose work has been exhibited at the Royal Academy and is included in the private collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Porcelain teapot with rattan handle by Hugh West
Joy Joy | Simeon Stafford
Whitewater Contemporary, The Parade, Polzeath, PL27 6SR.
www.whitewatercontemporary.co.uk | art@whitewatercontemporary.co.uk
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Print Ready 300dpi images for press use:
TIME FOR TEA Ceramics by Hugh West
TIME FOR TEA ceramics by Hugh West 2
Editors Notes
Whitewater Contemporary
Whitewater Contemporary specialises in painting, print, sculpture, studio ceramics and craft by Cornwall's leading contemporary artists, all on show at our beautiful ocean front space in Polzeath, Cornwall. The gallery's sister venue, Whitewater Gallery, which is situated next door, offers an extensive collection of limited edition prints, photography, pottery and handcrafted jewellery.
Whitewater Contemporary, The Parade, Polzeath, Cornwall PL27 6SR. Tel: 01208 869301art@whitewatercontemporary.co.uk|www.whitewatercontemporary.co.uk
For further press information or additional images contact Mercedes Smith at Fine Art Communications director@fineartcommunications.co.uk / Tel 07825 270235 / www.fineartcommunications.co.uk
