The Porosity of Self
The Reality of Solids
I was taught that true solidity doesn’t exist. Atoms have space within and between them, even within objects we think of as solid. In fact, identifying an atom as wholly belonging to one thing is an oversimplification of reality. On a microscopic level, our cells are somewhat fluid: they do not adhere like bricks and mortar. Our skin is porous.
A Body is a Vessel that Leaks
Ceramicists often use the language of bodies to refer to a vase’s shape; the shoulders, the belly, the foot. As a ceramic artist I use the vessel as a metaphor for the self. I often sculpt with earthenware, a type of clay with particles more loosely bound than others. Earthenware is porous, and doesn’t hold water.