Although it is an abstract sculpture, Maria Kuczynska’s porcelain figure brings to mind the broken remains of ancient Roman and Greek statues. The porcelain clay mirrors the smooth white surfaces of classical marble statues and the female form suggests the small figures that were created to represent goddesses. Before it is fired, porcelain is very malleable, which means it can be folded and draped like cloth, a quality Kuczynska uses to very great effect here. Once fired, it is very hard and strong, making it possible to create the kind of fine-edged details seen in this figure. Kuczynska was born in Poland and completed her art studies there. She was awarded the Grand Prize at the 1979 ‘Faenza International Ceramic Competition’ in Italy and since 1980 she has been a member of the International Academy of Ceramics in Geneva. Kuczynska has lived in Australia since 1982. She has been artist in residence at the Canberra School of Art and at the Meridian Sculpture Foundry, Melbourne.