Spit & Swallow, 2023
20" X 13" X 34”
Ceramic and Glaze, Bathroom Tile, Wood, Black Dye, Water,
and Self-feeding pump
20" X 13" X 34”
Ceramic and Glaze, Bathroom Tile, Wood, Black Dye, Water,
and Self-feeding pump
Mounted on the face of a freestanding box structure, a woman peaks through a ceramic slab. From her lips pours a continuous stream of pitch-black liquid, which spills into a basin below. While her gesture points downward, her gaze fixes defiantly upward — meeting the eyes of anyone who dares approach.
Standing alone, the fountain presents a potent combination of symbolism and action. Traditionally a site of nourishment and public offering, this fountain appears corrupted — its waters dark and the basin nearly brimming with a tainted, ink-like substance. The system is self-feeding: an endless cycle of expulsion and reabsorption, a loop of toxicity that neither ends nor cleanses.
Spit & Swallow reflects on the dynamics of toxicity — inspired by the observation of individuals whose harmful behaviors ripple outward into the communities around them. While self-sabotaging at its core, such toxicity also dilutes and damages others, spreading a mentality of harm and mistrust. The piece mimics the allure of an offering — inviting the viewer to drink — while confronting them with the consequences of participation. It asks: at what point do we refuse the cycle, and what does it take to recognize poison disguised as sustenance?
Standing alone, the fountain presents a potent combination of symbolism and action. Traditionally a site of nourishment and public offering, this fountain appears corrupted — its waters dark and the basin nearly brimming with a tainted, ink-like substance. The system is self-feeding: an endless cycle of expulsion and reabsorption, a loop of toxicity that neither ends nor cleanses.
Spit & Swallow reflects on the dynamics of toxicity — inspired by the observation of individuals whose harmful behaviors ripple outward into the communities around them. While self-sabotaging at its core, such toxicity also dilutes and damages others, spreading a mentality of harm and mistrust. The piece mimics the allure of an offering — inviting the viewer to drink — while confronting them with the consequences of participation. It asks: at what point do we refuse the cycle, and what does it take to recognize poison disguised as sustenance?
