Feet of Clay

An installation performance created for the American Academy in Rome and destructed over the course of the evening. Feet of Clay consists of small clay elements sculpted by the artist’s hands and feet.

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The small clay vessels are ‘diyas’, clay lamps that hold significant cultural and social value in the Indian subcontinent. Often crafted by the low-income class of society, these lamps are traditionally lit during festivities to bring purity and prosperity in people’s lives. As a way of saying, ‘feet of clay’ also refers to the hidden flaws or weaknesses in the character of an otherwise admired person. The act of walking over a carpet of lamps metaphorically highlights this saying while revealing the inherent vulnerabilities that one carries as a human being living in a conventional society. The necessary destruction of clay lamps over the course of the evening serves as a commentary on societal norms that simultaneously divide and unite individuals.

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Through an exploration of language, origin, and decoding of objects, Agrawal’s works engage with notions that disclose malfunction in society, while probing the very essence and purpose of civilization. Using performance as a medium, Agrawal challenges and recontextualizes cultural symbols that influence our collective identity.

 

-Johanne Affricott