Pas de deux (Step of Two)

Pas de deux (Step of Two) investigates the symbiotic relationship between the sculptural object and its architectural foundation. This collaboration between Lennox St. Gallery and ESCULTURA challenges the traditional ‘white cube’ convention, where the pedestal is treated as a neutral, invisible utility. Instead, this exhibition positions the plinth as an active sculptural participant, engaged in a formal choreography with the ceramic medium.

The exhibition features the distinct practices of Bettina Willner, Claudia Terstappen and Christopher Jewitt. While each artist maintains a unique vernacular – ranging from Willner’s organic, crustacean surfaces to Terstappen’s exploration of monumental landscape and Jewitt’s gestural abstraction – they are united by a common structural element. ESCULTURA’s bespoke plinths are not merely containers for these works; they are material responses. By utilising specialised finishes and precision geometries, the supports mirror, contrast and extend the physical logic of the ceramics they uphold.

The concept of the pas de deux serves as a metaphor for this mutual dependency. In classical ballet, the partner dance relies on the precarious balance of weight and counterweight. Similarly, this exhibition highlights how design and fine art converge to create a unified aesthetic experience. By elevating the pedestal to a site of artistic inquiry, Pas de deux invites viewers to reconsider the hierarchy of display and the integrated nature of contemporary craftsmanship.