Jerwood Foundation

Juxtaposed with corroding found metal elements, the installation consists of forty sculptural objects that negotiate the inherent perishability of matter. The shapes of the pieces reference domestic items and architectural forms at different stages of decay, creating a symbolic alternative universe where the process of decay is regarded as progression.

Each sculptural item was made of waste flowers combined with shellac, beeswax, and other natural, brittle and biodegradable materials. When looking for forms to juxtapose with the perishable material we developed, we searched for discarded metal objects, imagining that these would offer a contrasting idea of permanence. In fact, we discovered that metal, too, is ephemeral: corroding, rusting and crumbling with a similar beauty.

The installation showcased throughout a series of exhibitions organised by the Jerwood Foundation reflected on the contemporary consumer culture, exposing and embracing the processes of decay, destruction, renewal, and reconstruction through these perishable and ephemeral objects. It also stimulated questions about history and future scenarios for making.

Experimenting with the processes of deconstruction, we wanted to focus on the impermanence of objects and, therefore, our unique relationship with them. The installation initiated this almost uncomfortable desire to preserve them – a non-physical relation which lasts as long as we consciously foster it. We strongly believe that the objects we value will outgrow the everyday and become representatives of our times.