‘Listen Here Flower’, 2019
A site-specific collaboration with dear friend John Booth at Amastan Hotel in Paris. We installed a desk and kiln and worked directly with clay and colour in their ‘pop-up’ space to create our mural. Our motivation was a response to the sadness and confusion surrounding Brexit at the time.
The mural was presented as one, but guests to the opening were allowed to buy and immediately take a tile there and then. As a result, the mural broke up and the Individual tiles were free to go and be celebrated, finding different homes in the knowledge that they were part of something bigger.
A mural is by definition a wall that does not divide or close-up spaces, it paradoxically acts as a canvas which unites viewers, adding a new layer into a social dialogue through a common medium.
Zied Sanhaji, Amastan Founder
… each tile of the ceramic mural will be sold separately to guests during the (opening) vernissage. This technique will allow the mural to spread freely throughout Europe and the world in a direct commentary on Nationalist attitudes prevalent at the moment in our continent’s politics.
Matthew Raw & John Booth
Links
Thanks to: the staff at Amastan, Marine Duroselle (exhibition graphics) and Catherine Garrett.
Previous project
‘London Making Now’, 2021
An exhibition celebrating contemporary making in London. My piece ‘Panel Discussion’ was acquired by the Museum of London for the show
Next project
‘The Welcome Table’, 2022
Ceramic tile and oak table. An extension of my ‘Welcome’ range for The New Craftsmen. Inspired by mudlarking on the foreshore of the River Thames