MEET OUR MAKERS

HELEN HIGGINS

Ceramicist / Gwneuthurwr Cerameg

Helen Higgins' recent work features animal and human sculptural figurines wearing ‘dress-up’ costumes or ‘onesies’ and sometimes wearing hooded tops or masks. Each seems to have its own personal character, personality and mannerisms.

'I am fascinated by the idea of disguise or incognito. The figures are often an analogy for how people hide a fragile self-esteem behind a robust façade or a costume disguise, often pretending to be what they are not. Some figures have narrow openings literally cut into their bases like scars. The viewer is invited to peer into them to slowly reveal sentimental objects or details and décor on the walls of the interior, revealing the ‘beauty within’.'

Helen works from home in a small studio near Merthyr Tydfil. She has a background in window dressing and figurine painting and was a teacher for 15 years of Secondary Art and Design. Helen studied Ceramics at UWIC, Howard Gardens in Cardiff achieving 1st class BA Hons Degree.

Mae gwaith diweddar Helen Higgins yn cynnwys ffigurau cerfluniol o anifeiliaid a bodau dynol yn gwisgo gwisg ffansi, 'onesies' a dillad neu fasgiau cwfl. Mae gan bob un ohonynt gymeriad unigol, ei bersonoliaeth a'i ystumiau personol ei hun.

'Mae'r syniad o guddio neu fod yn anhysbys o ddiddordeb i mi. Mae'r ffigurau yn aml yn gyfatebiaeth i'r modd y mae pobl yn cuddio eu hunan-barch bregus y tu ôl i ffasâd cadarn neu wisgoedd, gan geisio bod yn berson arall. Mae gan rai ffigurau agoriadau cul wedi’u torri'n llythrennol yn eu bôn fel creithiau. Gwahoddir y gwyliwr i graffu y tu mewn iddyn nhw gan ddatgelu'n araf wrthrychau sentimental neu fanylion a dyfeisiau ar waliau tu mewn i’r darnau, gan ddatgelu 'harddwch tu mewn'.

Mae Helen yn gweithio o gartref mewn stiwdio fach ger Merthyr Tudful. Mae ganddi gefndir mewn gwisgo ffenestri a phaentio ffigur a bu'n athro Celf a Dylunio mewn Ysgol Uwchradd am 15 mlynedd. Astudiodd Helen Gerameg yn UWIC, Howard Gardens yng Nghaerdydd gan ennill gradd BA Anrhydedd dosbarth cyntaf.