Fountain 1
A story of many weaves
Operating in a classical manner, the fountain tells the story of climate catastrophe from the perspective of water.
The voice of nature in this sculpture is the falling drops and the sound of water, which are the sound of the fountain, pouring through the successive elements of this porcelain-white, richly ornamented, baroque composition. Each element has been chosen to talk about a specific issue directly related to water in the context of climate change. They include a tractor, ears of wheat, oil, gold, a donkey, ruderal plants, mice, palm trees, pine trees, butterflies, avocados and cows, among others.
The Ouroboros snake, eating its own tail, and the closed water cycle symbolise an inescapable truth: the consequences of our actions towards the environment will sooner or later come back to us. For example - the production of 1 kg of meat consumes as much as 16,000 litres of water, the equivalent of about 100 baths. Insanity.
What is important in this work is the symbolism of the fountain itself, which in culture refers to life, renewal and abundance. Here they are shown as if in a distorted mirror. I also consciously draw on a material that has been used for centuries to tell stories through decoration. Ceramics in past centuries showcased exotic fauna and flora, elements of distant cultures or important historical events.
It has been a vehicle for storytelling in its history, reflecting the aesthetics and symbolism of its time.
The project was created at the invitation of curator Joanna Glinkowska for the exhibition How to Talk to Water Demons. SiC Gallery BWA Wroclaw, Poland
Title: Fountain 1. A story of many strands
Year: 2024
Material: stoneware, glaze
Technique: throwing wheel, sculpting, press-moulding 1200 C firing
Dimensions: 120 x 60 x 60 cm
The voice of nature in this sculpture is the falling drops and the sound of water, which are the sound of the fountain, pouring through the successive elements of this porcelain-white, richly ornamented, baroque composition. Each element has been chosen to talk about a specific issue directly related to water in the context of climate change. They include a tractor, ears of wheat, oil, gold, a donkey, ruderal plants, mice, palm trees, pine trees, butterflies, avocados and cows, among others.
The Ouroboros snake, eating its own tail, and the closed water cycle symbolise an inescapable truth: the consequences of our actions towards the environment will sooner or later come back to us. For example - the production of 1 kg of meat consumes as much as 16,000 litres of water, the equivalent of about 100 baths. Insanity.
What is important in this work is the symbolism of the fountain itself, which in culture refers to life, renewal and abundance. Here they are shown as if in a distorted mirror. I also consciously draw on a material that has been used for centuries to tell stories through decoration. Ceramics in past centuries showcased exotic fauna and flora, elements of distant cultures or important historical events.
It has been a vehicle for storytelling in its history, reflecting the aesthetics and symbolism of its time.
The project was created at the invitation of curator Joanna Glinkowska for the exhibition How to Talk to Water Demons. SiC Gallery BWA Wroclaw, Poland
Title: Fountain 1. A story of many strands
Year: 2024
Material: stoneware, glaze
Technique: throwing wheel, sculpting, press-moulding 1200 C firing
Dimensions: 120 x 60 x 60 cm
Photo: Alicja Kielan, Courtesy of BWA Wrocław