The Coal Loader, Waverton, 14-29 May 2022

Love Me Tender, 2021, kinetic assemblage, 42x18x17cm

This kinetic assemblage is activated by winding a mechanism that sets two marionette parents gently rocking their baby to the melody Waves of the Danube. The parental figures sway rhythmically while a music box plays a soft lullaby. At first glance the scene appears tender and serene, evoking the comforting rituals of care and protection. On closer inspection, however, the illusion begins to fracture. The baby is suspended precariously from a considerable height, and the parents’ stiff, mechanical movements introduce unease. What initially feels nurturing gradually reveals itself as unsettling.

The figures are housed within an old petrol tin, creating a juxtaposition between childhood toys and petroleum. Through this contrast, the work reflects the tension between care and harm. It questions how we can lovingly nurture our children while simultaneously endangering their future through an ongoing dependence on fossil fuels.

Work in progress – Love Me Tender, 2021