‘The Stubborn Tapir.’ : Dialogue with Tapir/International Engagement Project

‘The Stubborn Tapir’ (2011) is an international project originally initiated by the renowned ceramic artist Christine Brückner. The project’s ethos is ‘diversity springs from uniformity.’ ‘The Stubborn Tapir’ explores how different artists liberate their creative practice when restricted to using a simple form, the tapir. My work contributes to the international project through the exhibition of physical ceramic works, a conference presentation, engagement through dialogue and fostering the development of the international ceramic network. There is a continuing annual exhibition to showcase the newest ceramic tapirs., I attended the June 2011 ‘Dialogue with Tapir’ conference, workshops and symposium in Zvartava, Latvia; ‘Dialogue with Tapir’ was part organised by Art Academy of Latvia. I produced wood-fired tapirs alongside ceramicists from Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Georgia, France, Germany, Hungary, Georgia, Latvia, Spain, Portugal and the UK. The symposium’s tapirs were later exhibited in Latvia and Paris. There was also a conference and debate as part of Les journées des métiers d'arts européens in conjunction with Galerie Terres d'Aligre., The increased benefits of cross-cultural symposia are evident from subsequent visits arranged between participants in furtherance of a nascent international ceramic network.