Courtesy: the artist and Fox Jensen Gallery, Sydney.

Men behaving badly, awkwardly, and violently is at the heart of Nina Waring’s ceramic sculptures. Covered in tattoos, they combine Neanderthal brutality with a decorative armour of “skin art”. This kind of marking has become oddly conformist, and any lingering menace is at risk of conveying little more than the softest tribalism.

Alongside these endearing male figures are a group of Waring’s more familiar and celebrated tattooed dogs. Snoozing, benign, cuddly even, they convey humanity and warmth whilst the male figures posture and growl with an almost comedic level of bravado.

The dogs have assumed the role of peacemakers – no bark, no bite, just sleepy charm. Yes, they too have the tattoos suggestive of gangland pooches, but these pups would certainly be man’s best friend were he to behave better…

These porcelain sculptures are made and painted with such care and affection, that they manage to be simultaneously connected to a long lineage of decorative ceramics that reaches back through the imperialist histories of China, The Netherlands and England whilst being determinedly contemporary.

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