Susan Protsack May- August 2021

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Artist Statement

Borborygmophone

An abstracted representation of the human gastrointestinal tract, as well as a playable instrument with continuous tubing that starts at the top with a trombone mouthpiece and extends all the way to the bell at the opposite end. The title refers to borborygmus, a term for the growling and rumbling sounds made by the stomach and intestines. Like the works from the Attribute series, its construction is based on a common household tool – in this case a toilet plunger.

Attribute

Attribute is comprised of a number of works that reference the professional and unpaid housekeepers who clean and care for the places where we live. It asserts that the work they do is important as a clean, well-kept home is vital to health, well-being and comfort. In these works, ordinary household tools are transformed into celebratory versions that symbolically represent these domestic workers and housekeeping. In a broader sense, Attribute examines society’s view toward physical labour and seeks to reframe it in a new and more positive light. So, while these sculptures focus on housekeeping, the theme may be universally applied to all types of manual work which, in our society, is often undervalued and unappreciated. The same can be said of the workers (often minorities or migrant workers) who are involved in this type of labour, who are often referred to as ‘invisible’ because of the lack of recognition they receive.

Throughout history, household-related work has typically been done by women and even now, women still do a disproportionate amount of household tasks. To acknowledge this association, the sculptures are made with materials that have been traditionally associated with ‘women’s work’ and often deemed to be ‘feminine’, such as yarn, ribbon, and thread. Bright colours convey a sense of joy, and they too have been historically considered as ‘feminine’ and appealing to women. Finally, the techniques used in the embellishment of the tools are also associated with women’s work, for example, stitching, embroidery and yarn work. The handle of the feather duster has special significance for current times with its extensive cocoon-like wrapping of yarn and ribbon. In a sense, our homes have become our cocoons during the COVID-19 pandemic –ideally a place of security and potential change. The hope is that in this time of isolation and retreat, our homes will be a haven that provides an opportunity for self-reflection, renewal and growth and that we will emerge into post-pandemic life transformed as better versions of our former selves.

This work reflects current times in another way. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many people coming to the realization that much of the physical work traditionally considered unimportant and low status is, in fact, essential. People have begun to understand that cleaners, truckers, grocery store workers and other ‘unskilled’ workers are vital to society and an absolute necessity to people who are sequestered in their homes. There has been an outpouring of gratitude toward these “heroes” who, by doing these types of jobs are often placing themselves at high risk. It has amplified and accelerated the attitude society has started to adopt, even before the COVID-19 outbreak, that workers and the work they do, matter – and are deserving of respect, appreciation and appropriate compensation.