In sheep's clothing is a work resulting from the artist-in-residence project Contemporary Ceramics at PP&A São Bernardo Ceramics, in Alcobaça, Portugal.
The In sheep's clothing work consists of more than 1000 butterflies and flowers entirely molded by hand by the artist, glazed in 6 different colors, which assembled together form the shape of a natural sized soldier wearing a military camo uniform, holding a rifle in his hands. The mosaic soldier is "lying" on a low platform, almost at ground level. The butterflies and flowers are not glued on the surface, highlighting the fragile nature of the small pieces, and reinforcing the notion that everything can be gone and vanish in a heartbeat.
As suggested by the title of the work, In Sheep's Clothing, the butterflies and flowers entice the eye with its delicacy, beauty and fragility, perhaps making us forget that they are part of an image that is, in particular on Brazil's recent history, linked to the notion of violence and repression. We are therefore faced with a dilemma caused by a contradictory, duplicitous speech, and therefore it's up to each one of us to take a position towards this dilemma.
* thanks to everyone involved with the assembly of the work at the Prometheus Fecit exhibition. |