Animated Vessels

I always thought the phrase “Animated Vessels” was art historical in origin, a technical term for vessels that take on the form of living organisms and creatures. But after much searching I have found little in the way of common usage, and so it is possible that I have created the phrase myself. Yet animated vessels appear in nearly every culture and era.

Fig. 1 Nazca Figure Bottle thumbnail
Fig. 2 - Incense burner from 2nd c. CE Excavated at Mancheng. thumbnail
Fig. 3 - Coffee Jug Paul de Lamerie thumbnail
Fig. 1 Nazca Figure Bottle
Fig. 2 - Incense burner from 2nd c. CE Excavated at Mancheng.
Fig. 3 - Coffee Jug Paul de Lamerie

Fig. 1 Nazca Figure Bottle

Fig. 2 - Incense burner from 2nd c. CE Excavated at Mancheng.

Fig. 3 - Coffee Jug Paul de Lamerie

Ancient Egyptians anthropomorphized their funerary jars; the ancient Chinese animated their incense burners (fig. 2). In South America, 1st century Nazca potters created “figure bottles” (fig.1). Centuries later, the English designed their Rococo tea sets with legs that spewed like gusts of wind from the mouth of Neptune (fig. 3). This impulse to attach pleasure and story to the vessel shape seems to be both permanent and cross-cultural, and dare I say, universal.

Naturally, this mental impulse to find similarities of form continues to manifest itself today in everyday objects, like honey bottles in the shape of bears. Pottery, too, is often designed with this in mind: the handle that hugs the side of a vase is like a serpent that coils upward to bite its prey. Many ancient Roman pots echoed this form (fig. 4), and it is a connection that is still in play today (fig.  5).

Fig. 4 - Roman Vase thumbnail
Fig. 5 Contemporary Snake Mug thumbnail
Fig. 6 – Shampoo and Soap Bottles with Cartoon Character Heads, called Soakies  thumbnail
Fig. 4 - Roman Vase
Fig. 5 Contemporary Snake Mug
Fig. 6 – Shampoo and Soap Bottles with Cartoon Character Heads, called Soakies

Fig. 4 - Roman Vase

Fig. 5 Contemporary Snake Mug

Fig. 6 – Shampoo and Soap Bottles with Cartoon Character Heads, called Soakies

Much like a simile, animated vessels function as a kind of cliche. When we say “as wise as an owl,” or “as sharp as a tack” we compare one quality with another, simply, in a language understood by all. In a way, animated vessels are like visual similes – straightforward, explicit, graspable. Kid’s soakies are a prime example (fig. 6). And yet despite the superficial comparisons, some animated vessels retain an expressive depth far greater than their well-worn formulas would suggest.

In the proposed exhibition, I would like to gather a selection of the many varieties of “animated vessels” found in contemporary art practice today.

Many of the included artists create art objects that preserve the straightforward sense of both vessel and animation. For example, Julia Kunin and Daniel Wiener create sculptures that function as vases in which the simile is obvious. Whereas other artists stretch this notion, manipulating their material to such an extent that the form becomes less usable as a “vessel.”  Francesca Dimattio and Josh Blackwell begin with vessels, and then reconfigure their sources to emphasize aesthetic form or social commentary. The deeply lodged impulse to find similarities between disparate forms continues to flourish, though now expressed with many distinct visions (see artist list below).

Selected Artists (this may change)

Ann Agee, Vase (Large and Small) thumbnail
Afruz Amighi, Rocket Gods (Cages), 2010 thumbnail
Josh Blackwell, Plastic Basket thumbnail
Lee Boroson, Lava Lamps in the shape of Lava Lamps thumbnail
Joy Curtis, Fivesided, Forced, Folded, 2011 thumbnail
Nancy Davidson, Lulus thumbnail
Francesca Dimattio, Edo Pot, 2012 thumbnail
Eli Hansen, I wouldn't worry about it thumbnail
Hilary Harnischfeger, Double, 2011 thumbnail
hKirsten Hassenfeld, Blueware (Cloud), 2009 thumbnail
David Humphrey, Horse Blossom 2 thumbnail
Jessica Jackson Hutchins, Figure with Red Bowl, 2010 thumbnail
Julia Kunin, Scholar's Rock Vase, 2012 thumbnail
Shari Mendelson, Bird Vessel thumbnail
Sarah Peters thumbnail
Daniel Wiener, Algorithm for a Crazy Vase thumbnail
Robert Zungu, Untitled (Alchemy) thumbnail
Ann Agee, Vase (Large and Small)
Afruz Amighi, Rocket Gods (Cages), 2010
Josh Blackwell, Plastic Basket
Lee Boroson, Lava Lamps in the shape of Lava Lamps
Joy Curtis, Fivesided, Forced, Folded, 2011
Nancy Davidson, Lulus
Francesca Dimattio, Edo Pot, 2012
Eli Hansen, I wouldn't worry about it
Hilary Harnischfeger, Double, 2011
hKirsten Hassenfeld, Blueware (Cloud), 2009
David Humphrey, Horse Blossom 2
Jessica Jackson Hutchins, Figure with Red Bowl, 2010
Julia Kunin, Scholar's Rock Vase, 2012
Shari Mendelson, Bird Vessel
Sarah Peters
Daniel Wiener, Algorithm for a Crazy Vase
Robert Zungu, Untitled (Alchemy)

Ann Agee, Vase (Large and Small)

Afruz Amighi, Rocket Gods (Cages), 2010

Josh Blackwell, Plastic Basket

Lee Boroson, Lava Lamps in the shape of Lava Lamps

Joy Curtis, Fivesided, Forced, Folded, 2011

Nancy Davidson, Lulus

Francesca Dimattio, Edo Pot, 2012

Eli Hansen, I wouldn't worry about it

Hilary Harnischfeger, Double, 2011

hKirsten Hassenfeld, Blueware (Cloud), 2009

David Humphrey, Horse Blossom 2

Jessica Jackson Hutchins, Figure with Red Bowl, 2010

Julia Kunin, Scholar's Rock Vase, 2012

Shari Mendelson, Bird Vessel

Sarah Peters

Daniel Wiener, Algorithm for a Crazy Vase

Robert Zungu, Untitled (Alchemy)

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