 |
 |
 |
 |
| A Garden of Spices __ 1998 Etched glass, a book, nature and time. 9 x 20 x 15 inches |
. | . |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
"A Garden of Spices", is the first piece in a series of works planned. In many of my following works since 1994, there has been a recurring question of duration: duration of memory, of knowledge, of understanding, of the universe, of time. Each of which expresses a loss and gain of information. Today we store information at an incomprehensible rate with a speed and persistence reserved only for insects. This accumulation gives us a sense of well-being and comfort, of progress. But all this information is vulnerable to the duration of its importance, and maintenance then becomes the action of importance. Francis Bacon put forth a new method (Novum Organum) based on the idea that knowledge is cumulative, but all knowledge is subject to neglect if not properly maintained. Without this constant care the pressure nature exerts on us would prevail. The design of this piece is a five-sided bottomless glass box. The entire glass surface is etched except for a word on the top surface. A book is placed on a cleared section of earth and the glass box is placed over it. After this, time becomes the prevalent issue and nature the constant force.