Vessels

Vessels

The vessel is the central object in this two-part installation; the vessel as an archetype used by people in many cultures, across history. Here it is being utilized as a metaphor for a conversation, a recipient of ideas and stories. 

The piece is composed of one large bowl and 144 small ones. The immediate semiotics of the piece signify craft. After all, bowls are crafted for use all over the world in almost every culture as carrying, eating and drinking devices. A closer look reveals that vessels deliberately transforms this first impression because the bowls are made of wax, easy to melt or break. The bowls become metaphors. 

During the exhibition of the installation, visitors are invited to bring an object of cultural significance to be placed in one of the small vessels. As each viewer places their object in a bowl, the art piece is transformed. These individual actions ‘complete’ the piece. It takes the individual contributions of the audience members to give the piece its final shape. The bowls, fragile as they are, become ‘useful’ in a new way.