There is always a piece of sky to soar
I have become interested in the relationships between airplanes, birds, dolphins, and migrations in general. For many people who migrate out of their countries of origin, an airplane is the final vehicle that will allow them to reach their dreams. Interestingly, airplanes are similar in shape to birds and dolphins, which migrate freely on a yearly basis.
Out of copper wire, I have created a group of crocheted forms that resemble airplanes, but also birds or dolphins, and I am displaying them as an installation. Copper wire speaks to our contemporary culture, which has so many “wireless” aspects but still relies so heavily on conductors like copper. It is our realization of materiality living in a time where we strive towards the virtual but still rely on physical paths and highways. Copper wire is full of contradictions such as: availability/scarcity, need/waste, power/impotence. It evidences a world of inequalities by being stolen from power lines in certain parts of the globe, but also being available in certain art and craft stores or getting salvaged from junkyards by people who risk their health by doing so.
The vast spectrum of these possible stories is what attracts me to this material. My choice of crochet for the creation of the forms addresses issues of feminism and power relations much like the traditional difference between art and craft. It also talks about hand labor and its exploitation.
The title “There is always a piece of sky to soar” makes reference to the work “There is always a cup of sea to sail in” of Brazilian poet Jorge de Lima and points towards the persistent possibilities for hope and dreams.
"There is always a piece of sky to soar," crocheted copper wire, variable dimensions, 2012
"There is always a piece of sky to soar," crocheted copper wire, variable dimensions, 2012
"There is always a piece of sky to soar," crocheted copper wire, variable dimensions, 2012 - detail