How Dare You? aka Pierced Baby, 2020, is a one-of-a-kind large sculpture of multi-fired hand-built earthenware, slips, underglaze, glaze, glass & animal bone. Size: 30”x10”x12”
How Dare You?
$4,000
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How Dare You? (2020) by Janis Mars Wunderlich is a ceramic sculpture inspired in part by activist Greta Thunberg. In her recent speech at the UN Climate Change Conference, she passionately asked the older generation – How Dare You- in reference to not doing more about climate change. I was impressed with her bold perspective, and it reminded me how we must look at all complex issues from multiple viewpoints.
This figure is covered in symbolic holes, emotional gaps, puncture wounds, piercings, tears in the flesh. It is unclear whether these are self-inflicted, or if this figure has been exposed to dangerous elements.
The older generation might judge the younger generation: “Why are the young people of today obsessed with body piercing, tattoos, and violence? Why are they full of anxiety, depression, and addicted to their iphones and ear buds?
What if we asked the older generation to consider a young person’s perspective: “Why do you judge me based on my color, heritage, piercings and tattoos? Why do you assume I am dangerous or depressed? Why do you put your personal right to own weapons above the safety of the rising generation? Why must we grow up in a polluted environment with insurmountable climate issues while you profit from lack of regulation?
The figure stands before us in combat boots and undies, ambiguously young and old, holding a weapon with eyes, and displaying a rack of antlers. Our human experience helps us to gain wisdom, but often we construct barriers and biases and wear them like antlers. I used unpredictably flowing glass as an experimental surface treatment to signify the tenuous balance between control and chaos.