Spiritual Pregnancy

Experimental Dissection with unfunctional Cutting Implements

Leaving traces of Acid on the Paper

(Lemon, Paper, Duct Tape, 4×4, 2 Butter Knives, Scalpel, Grinding Disk, Craft Knife, Chisel)

Documentation by Anwen Howells

‘Patriarchal timing is quantitative, measuring space in equal sections. Matriarchal timing is qualitative, subjective, experiencing the length of the moment according to feelings’

This work is a quantitative analysis of the components of a lemon in regards to the body and the furnace.

It involves placing, configuring, counting and recording. 50 lemons laid out in a methodical grid formation.

This is a response to the way iron and coke is broken, organised and weighed in preparation for an iron pour. The location resonates with these actions as these steps are where prepared charges ready for an iron pour are placed, in anticipation.

I have considered myself approaching the simulation of pregnancy through iron casting from the male perspective, perhaps I have lost my position of female through not being able to experience biological birth. Therefore I am emulating the behaviour of early male smelters needing that artificial simulation for experience. Quantitative actions opposed to qualitative feelings.

25/50 were peeled and measured.

I wanted to talk about repetitive actions in performance. The act of repeating something so simple seems futile.

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same result is deemed pointless but in response we get a different experience. The action remains the same but in a state of endurance it is performing the action that changes. It becomes a ritual.

Repeating gives significance and draws attention to the intimate details of an action. Peeling a lemon over and over again highlights the individual elements of the fruit, attributing body to skin, flesh, juice and seed. It also brings awareness to the acidity of the juice. Something that wouldn’t necessarily have been noticed when coming into contact once. Repeating causes continual wear, like drips of water eroding stone over a period of time.

Collated images from the performance. Photography by Anwen Howells.

‘When Life gives you Lemons’

I have been thinking about the male role in the simulation of pregnancy. I wonder whether I conform to this role as I do not fulfil the biological requirements of woman.

By viewing the lemon as a bodily form I can dissect and configure each element.

Peel:                                       Skin:                                  Furnace

Fruit:                                       Womb:                              Refractory

Juice:                                      Blood:                               Coke

Seeds:                                    Embryo:                            Iron

The male experience is often regarded as quantitative. Revolving around counting and ordering, mathematical analysis and formation.