2014
Medium: Freshwater pearls, monofilament thread, aluminum
Dimension: 96” x 45” x 45”
Cloud Cell is a hanging work made of over 13,000 freshwater pearls suspended in space by hundreds of clear filaments. Like a three dimensional pointillist painting, an image is formed by luminescent dots in space. This curvilinear form is inspired by Chinese garden stones, or scholar’s stone. The scholar’s stone is an object of reverence in China. Formed by the slow erosion of water, the scholar’s stone is seen as a site for contemplation and a symbol of wisdom. The form of the installation also resembles a mushroom cloud, the aftermath of a nuclear explosion. Here a duality is presented and free floating. The ghost-like sentiment of the work is intentional. While the form is based in nostalgia, there appears to be a looming sense of alarm and dangerous beauty.