"Surgery or Burglary" on the telly is
a coiled piece made from white earthenware clay, which stands
approximately 51cm high x 16cm wide. Barbie doll-like images made from
a hand made press mould have been attached with slip. The piece has
then been indented with pattern and fired to 1160 c. Coloured glaze has
been rubbed into the carving and wiped away, as well as being painted
on to the surface area before being fired to 1080c. Coloured enamels,
gold lustre and mother-of-pearl have then been applied to some areas of
the outside to give more definition and fired again to 800c.
This
piece makes comment on the use of cosmetic plastic surgery and
criticises our desire to look the same in an "acceptably pretty" way
like clones, or dolls in a toy factory.
When
the glazing process has been completed, headless dolls who are trying
to escape the piece, fill the inside, but because they are headless
they cannot see where they are going. To labour the point male dolls
are there and remain in control with their chains clearly in evidence.
The piece stands on a plinth which has been made for the work. It
contains objects women increasingly seem to think make them seem more
beautiful and desirable. However all is not lost - hiding amongst the
objects is Nina Powers' book "The One Dimensional Woman" which asks
interesting questions.
