Matthew Harris & Tim Rowan at Erskine, Hall & Coe

This visual coalition brings together two artists with a streamlined capacity for the unassumingly poignant.

Deep in the heart of elitist Mayfair, Erskine, Hall & Coe provides a thoughtful backdrop for this exhibition. Specialising in ceramics and modern art, the two-story gallery invites guests in without the sometimes labyrinthine dimensions of its peers, creating a relaxed and professional atmosphere.

We are first met by the work of American ceramics aficionado Tim Rowan. His pieces are bold and refined, yet still exude the necessary rawness of kiln work. Rowan’s repertoire is comprised of both clay and stone pieces, wood-fired and without glaze.

The intricate colouring on the smaller pieces occurs as part of the production process, adding dimension within repetition, and enhancing the overall feel of the collection: constructed naturalism.

The vessels vary in size and shape, the larger catching the light to reveal an interesting use of shade, showcasing the artist’s eye for cut and shape.

Equally, British artist Matthew Harris’s flare for cut and shape is intrinsic to his work. The use of linen-bound Japanese paper, segmented and reassembled with wax string onto a backdrop of crudely painted paper, creates intriguingly sporadic installments.

Harris keeps a basic palette of reds, blues and sepia tones, in line with his Asian influences, putting a modern spin on the folding and layering designs of origami. His work deserves a resilient eye to fully appreciate the pieces at face value. Repetition, a malady twinned in Rowan’s work, can sometimes overshadow the initial emotion evoked at first glance. Look beyond the art to escape losing the impact completely.

Victoria Sanz-Henry

Matthew Harris & Tim Rowan is on at Erskine, Hall & Coe until March 20^th 2013. For further information visit the gallery’s website here.