Objects Of Affection

"PLAY" was the working title of my series I decided to submit for this group show. In some ways, a small experimentation potentiating future projects. In others, yet another deconstruction and reassembling of language, thoughts, notions, principals, yadayada yada.

I have been reminded lately of my childhood love for toys. I cherished mine and treated them as precious commodities. It was weirdly irrational - I wouldn't 'play' with them in a normal sense; wouldn't dream of clashing two of them together to make exploding noises, oh no. They were far too precious for that.

I took to admiring them instead, and could spend hours just turning them around, observing all the little intricacies of the sculpt-work and detailing. I believe this was partly due to my rigid and religious upbringing.

Continuing on the path of deconstructing my own visual language and understanding form, I wanted to create monolithic toys that presented an aura of reverence. Monastic representations of a corruptible faith. Something to play with. To be seduced by. To be obsessed with.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands.

They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.

They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths.

Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

- Psalms 135:15-18