The London Traveler

Since I’ve been blogging a few tea-related themes I had to post this one – a superb image from an exhibition by Mai-Thu Perret which will open in London later this year.

It’s a teapot, but not as we know it…. it doubles as a walk-in art gallery.

Now you might look at this as just a piece of fun. But Mai-Thu Perret is actually a very interesting artist. She’s been working for years on a project about a feminist community called ‘The Crystal Frontier’, imaging what kind of products and artworks they create. Her multimedia evocation of this community includes text as well as different art and craft works. (Of course this strand of feminist art goes back to Judy Chicago’s ‘Dinner Party‘, in which the dinner plates each commemorated one of a number of important or celebrated women.)

So in her work, a teapot has different meanings. It’s not simply something for making tea in. The aluminium cladding makes it look like a spaceship – or perhaps an industrial artefact, something from the ‘male space’ of industry compared to the ‘female’ kitchen. Its round body and womb-like interior clearly denote a woman’s space – but it’s a space for art, as well, a space for creativity.

I’m going to look forward to seeing this exhibition. (It’s not till later this year – it opens 18 September at the Timothy Taylor Gallery, 15 Carlos Place, London W1.)

Photo credit : Courtesy the artist and Timothy Taylor Gallery, London
Copyright: Mai-Thu Perret, 2008

2 Comments