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Appendages
is a body of work that examines and celebrates the smooth surfaces and
forms of toilets, sinks, and bathtubs. As I spent time browsing the
line of products in the Kohler factory during my residency there, I
imagined myself as Duchamp browsing ‘ready-mades’ at his
local hardware store. I was interested in revealing hidden views of
these common products by extracting, stretching, and reconfiguring them
until they were no longer recognizable as product. Once I had accomplished
creating a number of uniquely abstract yet evocative forms, I chose
to embed a recognizable product element — a standard drain, a
showerhead, or the impression of a toilet trap — back into the
forms. My intention was to further abstract each piece with the thought
that the number of imaginable ‘functions’ and readings of
the sculpture would increase. Some of the appendages come with options
— built-in web cams, LCD displays, video projectors, and water
fountain plumbing — and can be configured in diptychs and triptychs.
However, first and foremost, each individual piece is meant to be a
stand-alone sculpture that may be displayed in any orientation on a
wall, floor, ceiling, or pedestal. I hope that over time each of the
Appendages will continue to reveal new ways for the viewer
to interact with them and the space they occupy. By imagining these forms enlarged to a scale that one could occupy, Appendages have inspired a number of architectural project proposals such as artist studios, housing, an amphitheater, and a video projection pavilion. I am also currently in the process of having chocolates and jewelry made from scaled-down appendages molds. I want to bring people outside of the art world — plumbers, steel workers, motorcyclists, product designers, or anyone interested in design and manufacturing — into a fine art environment to reflect and imagine. I’m interested in making work that provokes people to ask, “What is it? Is that art? How does it work?” |
READ SCULPTURE MAGAZINE REVIEW OF APPENDAGES
APPENDAGES