.thesean sculpture.

.coral tubes.

The concept of a “Thesean Sculpture” is based on the “Ship of Theseus” thought experiment. This thought experiment looks at the nature of identity and at what point, if any, does an object lose its identity if its individual parts are replaced.

This first sculpture “Coral Tubes” is made up of five hundred individual tubes. As the exhibition progresses and people take away tubes, the “Coral” form will begin to erode.

“Coral Tubes” will always be comprised of five hundred individual pieces. Outside of the sculpture many more pieces will exist both in people’s homes and at various stages of creation in my studio. The sculpture will be thought of as completed once all pieces have been eroded during the same exhibition. On completion of this sculpture the “Coral Tube” form will be retired. This sculptural form could end today with the five hundred pieces before you.

Or, it could stretch far out into the future.

.my process.

Each “Coral Tube” is individually sculpted. No two are alike. They are then bisque fired to 980°C and glazed with my own homemade glaze. The second firing is where the fun begins (and why I so frequently smell of a bonfire) the pieces are raku fired. The temperature of the kiln is raised rapidly to 1000°C and then then pieces are put into a sawdust filled dustbin and set alight to bring out the metallic colours.  

photos taken by Sab Deacon

james sutherland

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