finally, some new experiments

So, I have finally begun making things again after far too long, procrastination doesn’t even cover the post-dissertation avoidance of work....

To summarise, I’ve continued exploring my fascination of objects and the handling process of fragile and valuable materials, but I’ve also become interested in ritualism and our treatment of sacred objects – particularly our use of shrines and places of worship.

In the process of researching sacred objects, I visited museums and became particularly drawn to items in ancient Egyptian collections. What struck me about the presentation of these religiously valuable things was how crassly and insensitively they were sometimes shown. It made me question how amulets, personal possessions and mummified bodies can be presented this way, as I think by showing this material in such a commercialised way we are disrespecting and de-valuing the objects and its culture.

Continuing with this idea while working on a collaborative project following the theme of anatomy, I made delicate plaster casts of bones. I liked the idea of something as strong as bone being changed into an object that could crumble if handled improperly. As if they are so sacred they are not even meant to be handled. After doing this, I almost want to create objects out of material so flimsy it would crumble at someones touch (but more of that soon, hopefully!).

Responding to my interest in the ancient Egyptians rituals surrounding death and the body I drew symbols relating to this onto the casts of bones, but I wanted to do it in a way that would make the objects feel sacred and secret. I had wanted to experiment with ultra-violet light and hidden meanings within an installation for a very long time and this seemed the perfect opportunity.

And so, the symbols on the bones can only be revealed as they glow when the handler carefully shines a small torch over them, in a darkened room filled with candles that aim to create a sacred or spiritual atmosphere, which I hope it achieved after the feedback, ‘Oh this is horrible! But in a good way...’