Fifty Two

Fifty Two is composed of bricks interspersed with layers of reclaimed velvet. I used one brick for each year of my life, inserting an invisible layer of biographical reference into what appears to be a minimal, abstract work. The bricks both secure and protect the velvet whilst also placing it under pressure. The individual bricks stack to build a whole in an attempt to create connectedness. Yet, because the bricks are interspersed with contrasting layers of fabric, they remain separate. The fabric is both cushioning to the bricks, and crushed by their weight. Fifty Two can be installed in a variety of spaces, however the surroundings are integral to the work and affect how the viewer interacts with it – the work defines the space and the space defines the work. Each time it is newly constructed the work engages directly with its location, leaning against the wall. During one installation, the stack collapsed and I chose to show the work in its collapsed form, regarding this as an invitation to consider what constitutes the form of the work and under what conditions it can be seen as complete.