Filomena Praça

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Portugal, 2010

Object for the shoulder

Materials:

Copper, silver, painting

Techniques:

Folding with the technique of Chamfers

and Welding. The structure used welded

round filaments. Acrylic painting

Dimension in cm:

21.5 x 11 x 4

Artist Statement:

I created an object to use on the shoulder. It

can be considered a jewel or a sculpture.

The person that might use it, in order to see

it, needs to look over the shoulder. This

gesture symbolizes the reality of the

Palestinian people. To look over the

shoulder brings the idea of fear and

persecution. This object is a house / a

watchtower. My house was changed into a

watchtower or the watchtower became my

house. Who can live like this?

What was your starting point or your

inspiration for doing this project?

The starting point of this Project is the

perpetual search of the civil rights for the

people who are inside the Arab Israeli

conflict.

If you have a personal or other connection

to the exhibition theme? please share it

with us.

I decided to develop the connection between

jewelry and sculpture creating an object

that shows the point of view of the ones

who suffer with the conflict and not a

political point of view.

What were the main reasons for choosing

the materials, shapes or technique in your

work?

The house and the silver structure gives

hope for a resolution of the conflict.  The

painting inside the house symbolizes the

Palestinian people flag.. the base, in

copper, oxidized by heat, wants to give the

idea of the land destroyed by the conflict.

The support that holds the work through

pins, can be considered as a torture object

when used directly over the same. The

chosen shape wants to give the idea that

the house transforms itself in a watchtower

or the watchtower is the house.

What kind of feeling you wish the viewers

will get from your work?

I intend to show that the house is not a safe

place, and that, in this situation, is a

watchtower where fear shows an uncertain

future. I want to demonstrate also the war

refugee’s situation.

If you could give your Jewelry to an

important figure in the Middle East who

will he/she be? and why?

I dedicate this work to the Palestinian

people.