Jessica Drenk

I came across the work of Florida-based artist, Jessica Drenk on tumblr and it has stayed in my mind. The first image I saw of hers was of 'Porcelain Skin I', and I was drawn to it because it looks similar to some of the fishing wire maquettes I have been making with its modular but organic 'tube' forms. It looks to me like a piece of coral, you might not even consider that it is manmade because it has a natural imperfection to it, there is no order or regiment. There is also a terrific sense of movement, as the holes face slightly different directions as if swayed by wind or water. I think this feeling of movement is what makes the structure seem organic, because it grants it energy, the potential to grow and multiply.

I learnt that it is actually a 'mop head dipped in porcelain slip and fired', which fascinates me to an even greater extent. I really love how it is almost a trick in this way, because it looks natural but is a fabricated cast of a man-made, mas produced, mundane object. For me the work is too beautiful to be whimsical, but there is certainly an irony to the object it is and the thing it might be perceived to be.

I would love to take forward this idea of experimenting with everyday objects and using them in such a way that they are unrecognisable and look to be organic. This links to my thoughts from the casting workshop, how casting can disguise the original purpose or appearance of something by changing the material and form.