Tower of Babel

Found Medical Glass Vials, Fused

2017

 

This work utilizes thousands of enameled medical glass vials, pre-fused into disks, then stacked into a tower as if they were building blocks.  This stacked beacon is then heated in the kiln, where the piece compresses, distorts, and eventually buckles due to the varying pressure, weight, and temperature of the object and its environment.  Through the use of man-made scientific vessels, this piece explores the way that geometry, structure, and ambition within humanity is pushed to the point of near collapse - sometimes even reaching a point of failure.