n the exhibition Coup de Théâtre. A Play of Clay, Abby foregrounds the inherently theatrical nature of ceramics through a compelling dialogue between historical and contemporary works. The exhibition reveals how ceramics have long operated beyond mere functionality, embracing display, illusion, narrative, and spectacle as central qualities.

From imposing table centrepieces to hyper-stylised vases, from pot-bellied jugs to finely detailed genre scenes, the selected works demonstrate how ceramics have, for centuries, performed from shelves, cabinets, and interiors. Trompe-l'œil objects, grotesque caricatures, and ornamental excess underscore the medium’s capacity for staging, fiction, and transformation. Today, this performative dimension is being revisited and reactivated within contemporary practices, contributing to the current resurgence of interest in ceramics.

Drawing from Abby’s extensive and historically significant collection, the exhibition brings together around 90 works, including historical ceramics alongside paintings by artists such as Athos Burez and Gustave de Jonghe. These are placed in conversation with contemporary contributions.

In this context, my role as advisor focused on contemporary ceramics involved contributing to the conceptual framing of the exhibition, as well as helping to shape the dialogue between historical objects and current artistic positions. The aim was not only to highlight formal and aesthetic continuities, but also to emphasize how contemporary artists critically engage with the legacy of ceramics as a medium of display, fiction, and embodied narrative.