A life in Clay Retrospective Exhibition

18 July - 18 August 2024 Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 4pmYAVA Gallery & Arts HubHealesville, Yarra Valley

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Having a family connection in Hong Kong and China, Alistair had a keen interest in East Asian Art from an early age. This led him to study ceramics in Bendigo, after which he applied for post-graduate studies at the Kyoto University of Fine Arts. In Kyoto, he was determined to learn about porcelain technique and after three years at the university he was invited to enter the studio of the Master Ceramicist, Hirokuni Katsuno. This proved to be his most enlightening time in Japan, with life-changing learning under this tutelage. Studying this way of Japanese Ceramics meant learning the importance of tool making, throwing fine porcelain clay, painting, kiln building, and glazing techniques with incredible precision.

While studying he was fortunate to meet his future wife and, after five years in Japan they married and made the decision to return to Australia together. They relocated in the early 1980s and eventually settled in the Yarra Valley. In Australia, he was faced with many challenges to his practice but was determined to continue honing his skills in porcelain. For many years, he imported porcelain clay from Japan until local suppliers began to make or import American, French, and English clay bodies. His kilns largely involved gas fired reduction. In recent years he also built a wood firing kiln at his family home and took great pleasure in learning the finer parts of wood fire technique, and teaching these skills to his many local students. 

His extensive work ranged from raku and earthenware to stoneware, with porcelain being his speciality. Over the years, he taught many students both at his home studio and at schools around Australia. In his final years Alistair poured his efforts into his book; “Turning Inside Out”, a memoir on his life as a potter and a collection of his Japanese porcelain, glazing and firing techniques. The first prints of the final book landed in Australia the day he passed away. He never did like leaving anything unfinished. He would be very proud to know that the book is now published and is available through his website, YAVA Gallery and other stockists listed on the website. 

This exhibition has been organised by Alistair's daughters to celebrate 50 years of being a true master of his craft and what would have been his 70th Birthday this August.