Helen Birnbaum
SPACE BURGER AND CHIPS
Ceramic, reclaimed metal and old cutlery
16 x 16 x 8 cm | 8 x 8 cm
2023
SPACE BURGER AND CHIPS was made from different layers of ceramic sculpture. Firstly, the two burger buns (top and bottom) were made hollow to ensure that the ceramic microbes fillings could fit inside. The buns measure 16 cm by 16 cm by 8 cm. The buns were fired and glazed in a shiny brown glaze and then fired again with a cream coloured over glazed called Spectrum Cobblestone where the fired glaze splits into tiny cobblestone pieces giving that attractive toasted top of the burger bun look. Finally, the chips were made by cutting out squares of clay and then putting half spheres of clay on top to resembled computer chips. These chips were glazed in yellow and to give that chippy look and measure 8cm by 8cm
A single ceramic burger bun is on the bottom level and, very carefully, the artist balanced the fillings one on top of the other – about sixteen small pieces were used in total to make this feast. At a height of 20 cm the second bun was placed on top which an dis held in place by a metal stake which forms part of the helicopter decoration at the top. Reclaimed metal pieces are used as well; the decorative flourish at the top of the burger (the little metal helicopter blade) was found in a local scrap yard and the oversized retro knives and forks were scavenged from a French flea market many years ago.
Sausage, Egg, and Microchips
Ceramic
13 x 2 cm | 13 x 14 cm | 8 x 8 cm
2023
All made in ceramic this tasty, albeit greasy feast sits before your eyes. The sausages were made in a dark brown iron rich clay and fired twice, but not glazed. They measures 13 cm by 2 cm. The egg measuring 13 cm by 14 cm was made by pushing the yolk shape into a half sphere plastic former then fired and glazed in a shiny yellow glaze. The tiny white microbes are a small side dish for the space explorer. Finally, the chips were made by cutting out squares of clay and then putting half spheres of clay on top to resembled computer chips. These chips were glazed in yellow and to give that chip look and measure 8cm by 8cm.
MICRO BUTTIE
Ceramic and reclaimed material
20 x 14 x 23 cm
2023
MICRO BUTTIE was made from six layers of ceramic sculpture. Firstly, four pieces of ceramic sandwich bread measuring 20 cm by 14 cm were created to hold the microbe filling in place. The sandwich bread pieces were fired and glazed in a shiny orange glaze and then fired again with a cream coloured over glazed called Spectrum Cobblestone. The Cobblestone glaze splits into tiny cobblestone pieces giving that attractive top of the toasted sandwich look. Pieces of ceramic lettuce and cucumber were added to the mix for authenticity. Very carefully, the artist balanced the filling feast inside the sandwich bread slices – about sixteen ceramic pieceswere used in all. To keep all the layers in place a metal stake decorated with ceramic onions and olives was positioned in the middle of the sandwich stack to keep it all in place. The entire sculpture stands at 23 cm tall.
Helen Birnbaum
Helen Birnbaum is an artist who approaches society and science in a questioning way. The starting point of much of her work is contemporary society’s relationship with world changing events such as – through history and now. The quirkiness and energy of 1960’s design excites her and she strives to harness this dynamism whilst commenting on our own altered world. Birnbaum uses hand building techniques to create her works, adding materials such as rusty metal wires, coiled telephone wires and found objects. She has recently been integrating digital devices into her sculpture; sound, touch and vision now sit together widening the viewer’s experience. This is exciting art that will make you smile and always make you think. In 2020 she built 150 life size ceramic hands in a work called TERRA FIRMA Leaky Boat which explores the eco-refugee crisis . This work was exhibited in Glasgow during Cop 26, in Halifax during Refugee & Compassion week, Glastonbury and Daresbury Science Festivals, 2023, and many times digitally. In 2023 the National Grid and the think tank Sustainability First used images of TERRA FIRMA Leaky Boat in a ground breaking report about the impact of climate change.
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A ceramics residency at Liverpool Hope University was formative in Helen's understanding of how clay is used as a fine art medium, which she developed a few years’ later by completing a Masters in Art in Science course at John Moores University, Liverpool. This work has been exhibited extensively in the UK and around the world. Helen balances producing her ceramic installations by making smaller, sculptural works of all sorts; these are the works she sells in galleries and art fairs.
Birnbaum was the winner of the Victoria & Albert Museum/Morley Gallery Ceramic Prize in 2018. She has sculptures in the Victoria Gallery, Liverpool's Permanent Collection and works on permanent display in the Liverpool University School of Engineering. Notable exhibitions include the Gordon Pathology Museum, Guy’s Hospital London; the ARB Gallery Cambridge and the World Museum, Liverpool paving the way for exhibition at ARTBOX, Basel, Switzerland. She has also exhibited twice in Athens and also in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Since then she has exhibited twice at the Glastonbury Festival, in the Daresbury Science Festival and in Spitalfields, London.