Balance, Frustration, Reflection

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The ideas of scale, significance and value has always played a part in many things I make, especially given how society and the art world often puts the monumental/grandiose on a pedestal.

​Inspired by ancient standing stones, (something that scale plays a huge part in what is deemed the most important) the piece I’m working on, ‘Monument’  considers scale and I’m  playing with ideas of how we place meaning to objects. I’d like it to be a piece that’s both familiar and ambiguous, considering what really makes something important or of value.

The past few weeks in the studio have been frustrating to say the least, moments of doubt, frustration, and, occasionally, glimmers of clarity. Monument has pushed me into that all too familiar cycle of self doubt and ‘what’s the point’ conversation in my head. It been like an endless process of balancing, adjusting, and reconsidering every detail, all in the attempt of communicating an idea that is pretty simple. And yet, I’m still not quite there. 

What I’m trying to learn is balance is key—both literally and conceptually. The ceramic form on top, can be positioned in countless ways. Each shift in placement feels monumental (pun intended) and changes the entire feel of the work. This process has been ridiculously painstaking. I’ve spent hours upon hours just experimenting with the way the piece balances itself. Currently the ceramic piece is balanced on a plinth rather than fixed or secured as I want there to be a feeling of transience, as if the whole structure could shift or collapse at any moment - probably not ideal for an exhibition?

I’ve played with different plinths, as well as height, the texture, the finish. Should it be sanded? Painted? Ink or paint? Pencil? Left raw? The relationship between the plinth and the ceramic is crucial. I’ve gone through multiple variations, trying different finishes, sanding, painting, stripping it back, only to start over again. 

I’ve been rearranging the piece in the studio, looking at it from every angle, from a distance and up close. How does it feel from a lower viewpoint? What happens when you elevate it more? Does it feel too isolated or too approachable? Nothing feels quite right yet.

What makes this process so challenging is that, in the end, the final piece will be simple. And with simplicity, there’s always the risk of it being misunderstood. I can already anticipate that dreaded “I could have done that.”  Something I know all artists take a deep breath when hearing.

​The final result may seem simple. But the truth is, the simplicity comes from layers upon layers of thought, adjustments, and refinements, which in itself is maddening. I know I'm not alone in this process.

At this stage, Monument is nearly there. I’m close to resolving it, I hope.  In this frustration I have to remind myself (thank you instagram and the fellow artists who commented) that the very act of balancing/assembling/figuring it all out is all part of the ritual that is usually part of my work.
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I hope for Monument to be quietly unassuming, ambiguous, both monumental and precarious, solid yet vulnerable, maybe I’m asking too much or overthinking but isn’t that what we all do (please say yes!)