Reliquary

2015, Reliquary, Plaster, antique iron & silver leaf (orthographic view), 290 x 290 x290 mm.

Reliquary attempts to question the relevance of Christianity in the contemporary world. The antique nails hint of those used at the crucifixion, yet their number (46) and double-helix orientation denote modernity. The spherical nail structure positioned within a white cuboid references a cellular form, suggesting the possibility of inheritance in the biological and belief paradigms. By contrast, the plaster casket infers the encasement of something valuable. The silver signifies purity and, in Christian symbolism, ambiguously both divine wisdom and betrayal. The repository surface is cast from a mold of ancient wood, prompting speculation whether remembrance requires authenticity or just replication.