‘Does the moon know the well?’ marks the first institutional exhibition of South Australian ceramic artist Jordan Gower.
Known for his refined, material-driven approach to wheel-thrown ceramics, Gower has built a reputation as a studio potter who bridges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary experimentation. Recalling modernist and classical traditions, his works reaffirm the enduring power of handmade objects to hold memory, beauty, and meaning.
In ‘Does the moon know the well?’, Gower presents an ambitious new body of work that reimagines forms and surfaces developed through his practice as a production artist. Across unadorned vessels, archetypal cylinders, and wall-hanging discs, the exhibition explores the shifting boundary between functional craft and contemporary art; bringing together multiple, interconnected typologies, while exploring material expressions that evoke symbols of longevity, stillness, and transformation.
With an emphasis on surface, line and shadow, Gower’s use of layered glazes and minimal ornamentation carries both historical resonance and contemporary innovation. These works ask: what happens when longevity meets change? What impact does a still object have on us as we move throughout a restless contemporary world?
Acknowledgement
This project has been assisted by the South Australian Government through Create SA.
Images
Tile: Jordan Gower, Open Vase #1, 2024. Stoneware, bronze glaze, oxidation fired. Photo: Connor Patterson
Banner: Jordan Gower, Bronze glazed bowls, 2024. Photo: Connor Patterson