New Works

Magdalene Odundo presents a new body of ceramic vessels and the large-scale glass installation Transition II (2014) at Xavier Hufkens St-Georges, Brussels. The ceramic works, a focus of Odundo's practice for nearly five decades, draw inspiration from global ceramic traditions and the human body, imbuing each vessel with an anthropomorphic presence. These objects explore dualities such as inside/outside and fragility/strength, touching on themes of transition, identity, and cultural hybridity. Odundo hand-builds her unglazed vessels using coiling techniques, a laborious process that highlights the connection between maker and material.

Transition II (2014) is an installation of 1001 mouth-blown glass vessels, inspired by an ancient Egyptian glass earplug. The work appears to hover, creating a sense of weightlessness. Like clay, glass is an ancient medium transformed by fire. The installation draws parallels with a murmuration of starlings, suggesting themes of gathering and mutual recognition, where individual uniqueness contributes to a dynamic whole.