ROXANNE JACKSON: UNKNOWN GIANTS
Anton Kern Gallery presents UNKNOWN GIANTS by Roxanne Jackson, an exhibition that transforms the gallery’s street-facing windows into an immersive, life-size diorama, inviting viewers into the artist’s meticulously crafted and imagined world.
January 10 - March 1, 2025
In Jackson’s hands, these vitrines function not just as mere display cases, but as portholes into a submerged ecosystem—a fantastical realm set within a light-teal expanse of open ocean (where you may feel dizzy, not knowing if you are above or below the water’s surface). While the creatures are bizarre and monstrous (and at times waterlogged), they are also opulent and alluring. There are slimy conch shells; tentacled starfish; a one-eyed anemone; vibrant clownfish; and multiple mermaids with names like Llarona and Cordelia whose siren calls beckon you deeper, urging you to explore their barnacled and mysterious realm.
Nearly two dozen mythological creatures are on display, ranging dramatically in form and technique. Each showcases Jackson’s command of the ceramic medium and her fascination with fantasy and lore. There’s remarkable expertise demonstrated in Jackson’s use of scale: see the three-foot tall Nessy–named for its counterpart in Loch Ness–and the eight-foot long Crystal. Crystal is one of the artist’s largest sculptures made to date, and is both dragon and serpent all in one. This she-beast breathes fire, has a unicorn-like narwhal horn, and several hanging udder-breasts—a nod to the wolf mother who suckled the Remus and Romulus twins in the foundational Roman myth.
Nearby, true to form, Nessy’s elusive head is in profile, emerging from a murky bog, her form recalling blurry images from internet forums. There’s also mastery in technique: Loch ness (Nessy) and the Dragon (Crystal) have been glazed fired multiple times at different temperatures. The process of glaze firing a piece more than once allows the artist to enhance the finish and add more texture, thereby achieving a more nuanced and complex surface. Because of this technique, Crystal dons water marks, appropriate for a water beast; and dark green and brown glazes drip down Nessy’s neck, an homage to the dirty water she calls home.
Visually rich, and filled with a complex narrative history, the amphora encompasses the essence of UNKNOWN GIANTS—in Jackson’s (under) world, the surface is only the beginning, and there is always more to uncover down deep.