Craft / Endless Horizons: The Art of Hiroe Swen, Canberra Potters Gallery, Watson, until February 2. Reviewed by MEREDITH HINCHLIFFE.

This is a big exhibition, with many wonderful examples of Hiroe Swen’s outstanding ceramics.

Swen tends to work in series, and followers will recognise familiar glazes and surface decorative features, such as fish and birds.

No. 93 is a large platter or shallow bowl with one tiny fish, which looks as though it might be swimming towards the weeds. The swirling weeds, are dynamic and energise the surface. This platter is dated 2023 and is one of her most recent works on exhibit.

By contrast, No. 2 is a large vessel from 1976 and shows an extraordinary control of the glaze. It is a large vessel with an oatmeal coloured and white glaze. As it rises from the dense base oatmeal base, the white glaze becomes more pronounced.

Number 9 is a work from 1996, and is superb. A strong carved diagonal line runs from the top to approximately two thirds of the way to the base. A curved line in a creamy glaze intersects the carving, with a couple of additional curved lines on the walls of the pot. It is a large work, in a deep blue. For me, this is the pick of the show.

But there are many other works which will appeal to viewers. No. 8 is a large platter with a glossy dark blue glaze – very few of the works in the exhibition are glossy – decorated with pale blue blocks. This work is from around 1998.

Swen arrived in Australia in 1968 and began to make ceramic works in about 1970. She was inspired at this time by both Japanese influences and Australian images, which fascinated her. A Stone Lantern Form from 1974 is reminiscent of Japanese lanterns with which we are familiar. No.21, a vase, from 1999 is decorated with a cow with a bird on its back – a sight Swen saw regularly from her home in rural Queanbeyan.

Swen’s pots are strong and most have dynamic surface decoration. No. 32, a white-glazed vase, has alternating rings of green and blue glaze. The vase appears to be floating as there is a thin line of black on the foot, the walls are cut and the work rises proudly to reach its height.

Swen is fascinated with birds and fish. Many examples of works that are decorated with birds wheeling across the surface are being exhibited. Also included are works with stylised fish swimming in schools. They are playful, and whimsical. Three works from 2019 have more recognisable fish decorating their surfaces. For me, they fish have lost their playfulness and joie de vivre, but the forms are strong and can carry them.

This artist will be leaving Canberra in the next year and she is no longer making new work. This exhibition includes early works right through to pots made as recently as 2023. We will miss her professionalism and enthusiasm for making and showing top-class work.