Mortar Heads
Mortar Head Rings, reused sterling silver. Image: Michelle Bowden
Through the regular use of a tool, process or material, the whole experience, smell included, becomes imbedded in my memory and my expectation of future engagement. This is true to my studio practice, and is particularly so for cooking, eating and drinking. Just how essential perceptions of scents and aromas are to appreciation was illustrated for me when a friend had her olfactory nerves damaged in an accident.
Devastatingly her experience of tastes and smells was muddled. All that she knew of flavours and smells of food was cruelly shattered. The opposition between her expectations and how her damaged nerves interpreted the taste and smells, destroyed her appetite and enjoyment of food and drink. Food lost its appeal without the anticipated enjoyable associated smells and taste.
For me, a mortar and pestle powerfully evokes pungent spice and herbs and these pieces are intended as a reminder for how powerful and important our ability to experience them is. Each is intended to be worn and also to be held, talismans to preserve the ability to enjoy the scents and aromas of spicy food.
The Mortar Heads are designed for the wearer to crush and grind leaves of a herb or spice. The scent remains in the mortar for sniffing when wearing. The Mortars are nostril sized…
Mortar Head Ring 3, reused sterling silver with herb. Image: Michelle Bowden
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Mortar Head Ring 2, reused sterling silver with herb. Image: Michelle Bowden
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Mortar Head Ring 4, reused sterling silver with herb. Image: Michelle Bowden
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Mortar Head 1, reused sterling silver, hemp cord with herb. Image: Michelle Bowden
These works were created in response to the curatorial brief from Anna Cheng, Director of Ame Gallery (Central, Hong Kong) for the exhibition Scents of Life, 18 March - 29 April 2017. The exhibition toured to PIN sstudio Taiwan, 20 May - 2 June and then toured to J Tour Shanghai and back to Hong Kong for a final showing at Art Workerspace all in 2017.
https://klimt02.net/events/exhibitions/scents-life-ame-gallery
https://klimt02.net/events/exhibitions/scents-life-ame-gallery