The Dance of the angels: ceramic sculptures of John Perceval

Australia, 1962

Film
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Camera movement and film editing are combined to animate the ceramic figurines of John Perceval. He created his angels “more or less as symbols of the world’s survival.” An intangible element common to all Perceval’s angels is their spirit of humanity. These ceramic sculptures are disting- uished by their beautiful modelling, and their lustrous red copper glaze with its uncanny depth and beauty. Perceval does not devote himself exclusively to ceramic sculpture; he gives equal time to painting and has won the McCaughey and Vizard-Whollohan Prizes, and shared the Wynne Prize in 1961. Photography by Gerard Vanderberg; music by Dorian Le Gallienne.

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Collection

In ACMI's collection

Credits

director

Tim Burstall

producer

Patrick Ryan

production company

Eltham Films

Duration

00:06:00:00

Production places
Australia
Production dates
1962

Collection metadata

ACMI Identifier

002610

Language

English

Sound/audio

Sound

Colour

Colour

Holdings

16mm film; Access Print (Section 1)

16mm film; Preservation Print (Section 5)

16mm film; Limited Access Print (Section 2)

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If you would like to cite this item, please use the following template: {{cite web |url=https://acmi.net.au/works/66578--the-dance-of-the-angels-ceramic-sculptures-of-john-perceval/ |title=The Dance of the angels: ceramic sculptures of John Perceval |author=Australian Centre for the Moving Image |access-date=22 June 2025 |publisher=Australian Centre for the Moving Image}}