Holly Hanessian ~ Florida

Holly Hanessian: "For the last ten years I have used text and the book form as the means to explore meaning in my ceramic work. I create narrative artworks based on life experiences that result from both choice and chance. The text and wordplay, along with the other objects I create, construct a story. It is this combination of identifiable objects and common text using universal iconographies that give my artworks their contextual place in our culture."

Blood & Taste
By Holly Hanessian
Tallahassee, Florida: 2010, Holly Hanessian. Edition of 4.

10 x 11 x 4" oval porcelain container with plexiglass lid. Components: 5 test tubes, porcelain specimen bottle, and porcelain encased book. Housed in 14.375 x 12.75 x 7.375" wooden box with title engraved on sliding plexiglass lid. Words in English and Chinese, which refer to connections between Hanessian and her daughter, are etched across the lid of the porcelain container. Test tubes contain nail clippings and hair of Hanessian's daughter. All porcelain pieces designed and produced by Hanessian.

Holly Hanessian: "Research has shown (using identical twins studied over long periods of time) that our genetic chromosomes change and are adaptive to environmental and life experiences. Based on these findings, my recent artwork is a deeply personal examination within my own family. In creating a sculptural book called Blood & Taste, I have introduced words that describe daily life within our family and the genetic characteristics of my Chinese daughter, Olivia. My interest is both scientific and protective. I will watch how she takes her adaptive behaviors from our environment and frames many of the choices she has in her lifetime.

"The work is set in an 'O' shaped porcelain container with six test tubes of her hair and nail clippings, an 'O' shaped book that is sewn shut with words describing daily life and genetic characteristics, and a urine specimen bottle to set the book on for viewing. The materials are Chinese red glaze and fishing line, white porcelain, and a variety of translucent materials set against black soft satin background."
$3,500