Archive for the 'Steel' Category
Harriet Berman
Harriet Berman
Cubist Coffee Service, 200
Media, Size
Coffee service and tray constructed with steel from recycled tin containters, 19k gold, aluminum rivets, brass and stainless steel screws. Supporting easel constructed from sterling silver with brass screws, and feet dipped in plastic coating; 27 x 46 x 10″
Description
“Cubist Coffee Service is a bas-relief construction of the famous photograph for the Cubist coffee service originally titled, Lights and Shadows of Manhattan. Since all photographic images of this infamous coffee set always show the same side, my work comments on the fact that the photographic image is more famous than the actual object. The other side of the set is never shown. In fact, in 2004 when I saw this sterling silver set in a rare public appearance, its familiar, photographic ‘front’ was the only side shown to the public, while the backside was not possible to view.
Like a stage set, Cubist Coffee Service has every appearance (at a distance) of being the actual, three-dimensional reincarnation. The precious material of sterling silver plays a supporting role, literally, as the easel-stand on the back.
This work asks us to re-evaluate how an object is valued in our material culture. Does value exist by how something is made; by who made it; by what materials are used; or is value created by marketing and consumption?”
Junko Mori
Junko Mori
#09 Blossom, 2006
Wax-coated, forged mild steel
22.75 x 22.75 x 22
Photo: Matthew Hollow
