Essen Fressen
2023
gauze bandages, dyed muslin, wood, water
7' x 4' x 1'
A hand-dyed piece of muslin cloth is torn into strips. The resulting mass is submerged in water and placed atop a raw pine ledge that looms high upon the wall, tipping forward slightly. A runner of gauze bandages, tenderly stitched together is anchored beneath the bundle of muslin, and falls downward to the floor. The resaturated cloth releases remnants of the dye, separating into unexpected hues upon contact with the gauze.
Language is a material as well. Essen and fressen are Germanic words, which seem to share a meaning and yet, are undoubtedly distinct. Essen is to eat, fressen is to feed. I often ponder this distinction, and its relationship to animal husbandry and the rituals of the Catholic mass.
