jacob foran: headspace

‘headspace’ series by jacob foran, 2010 all images courtesy of stephen brashear

american artist jacob foran held a solo exhibition entitled ‘headspace’, a series of large ceramic forms at the university of washington-seattle’s 3D4M gallery. arranged in varying heights of five to ten feet tall, the sculptures largely resemble giant diving bells of brightand bold colours.

‘my work embodies theme of desire and fantasy. influenced by a port-town setting, water and submarine life have become a potent place of metaphor. physical representations of nautical exploration symbolize a quest for understanding — an investigation that is inseparable from my methodology as an artist and my interest in the subconscious. Imagery of diving gear represents armor that provides a stable internal environment in a pressure filled atmosphere. Informed by previous negotiations of strength and fragility, my newest work is compelled by an honor and celebration of mind and imagination.’ – jacob foran

in addition to helmets and armor, foran considers his sculptures to be a form of shelter and private chambers. the diving bells symbolically represent a barrier between one self and the pressures of the outside world. though the sculptures are large enough to physically crawl into, there is no literal point of entry. this, coupled with the playful way in which they are constructed suggest another form of protection–a barrier built with imagination and fantasy.

the works are entirely hand-made using a coil construction method from the ground up. foran builds the form from the inside out, pinching and compressing the clay to build a wall about 3/4-inch thick. details such as nuts and bolts are added after the general shape is set. the potholes are built outwards before the whole sculpture is fired in a large electric kiln. after a few days, the form is sanded and prepped for painting. foran worked closely with a team of glass artists and professional painters to achieve the desired finish.

installation view of ‘headspace’ series, 2010 ceramic, glass, auto paint, silver leaf