Companion to the 2005 CELESTIAL OBJECTS VIEWED WITH THE NAKED EYE
neckpiece from the Macleay Museum exhibition,
PHILOSOPHICAL EXPERIMENTS
uses a World War II Busola-Bézard compass (click here to see the compass as found)
as the housing into which one travels. The layers are peeled away like an onion
to reveal multiple tableaus, culminating in the 'jewel' of the compass chamber itself.
While the piece sits comfortably flat against the body when worn,
it is a very heavy piece - 10oz. (290g) with chain/cord. This returns it
in effect to an instrument of utility, an early measuring device or meter
of some unknown function. It is because of the weight of the object
that I have designed a wall piece for it to mount onto, so it may
be displayed sculpturally when not worn (see images).
PHILOSOPHICAL EXPERIMENTS.
OR,
OUT OF THE
HURLY-BURLY.
2007
Pendant (up to chain, closed):
5" x 3" x .75"
(13 x 7.5 x 2cm)
Cord/Chain: 29" (73cm)
WWII 'Original Bézard' compass, etched & patinated copper, brass, Victorian fork tines and handle, brass curtain ring, clay pipe fragment, steel-point and lithographic engravings, pocket watch balance cock and regulator, opals, sterling silver balls, Czech cubic zirconia, sea urchin spines, rose thorns, glass balls, lens, Roman excavated fragments, steel wire, leather, waxed linen thread, paper, text, soil.
Wall Mounting:
6.5" x 6.25" x 1.25"
(16.5 x 16 x 3cm)
Victorian wooden picture frame, copper, brass and steel screws, copper tacks, etched and patinated brass, steel wire, soil.
Click image to view details
