2007
Ridiculous Sublime Exhibition, 2007, installation view, mirror-polished stainless steel and mild steel
Micheal Reid Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Gnomes have a complex history that reaches far beyond Disney cartoons; originating in medieval Europe, Gnomes were closely associated with the science of alchemy and were the guardians of minerals and metals. The cute garden gnome is often overlooked as purely kitsch and decorative. The word Gnome originates from the Greek, Gnosis, which means knowledge.
I am interested in the trivial everyday aesthetic of the gnome in relation to its mystical and scientific history. The gnomes for this work are cast in stainless steel and stand on colourful powder coated steel rocks. This new appearance gives them the cold and menacing look of the Terminator. They are both ridiculous and sublime.