Barnaby Barford’s ambitious new work represents a merging of artistic genres; the classical and the contemporary, the static and the animated. Barford has become well known for capturing humorous moments in porcelain, while alluding to narratives that remain ambiguous. But with his first animated film, Damaged Goods, the artist has also created a cinematic world for his characters, giving his vision new life.
Damaged Goods tells a tragic tale played out by porcelain figurines residing in a bric-a-brac shop. The film explores notions of forbidden love, materialism and class divisions, while also turning the classic ‘rags to riches’ plot on its head with an unexpected twist. Barford revels in creating situations where, “everything is not quite as it seems.”
His newest narrative is populated by a host of characters, from the hero and heroine – a down-at-heel boy and a beautiful girl; to a sinister miser and an eccentric cast of circus players. For the exhibition at David Gill Galleries, the artist has created nine unique ceramic works featuring the actors from the film.
Each sculpture acts as a platform that both illustrates and extends the narrative, capturing the imaginative story of tragic love in a static moment. “The pieces I have made are an important conclusion to the entire project,” Barford comments. “I have taken these characters from conception through the journey of making the film and finally back into being static, stand alone sculptures."
