Station 9

The Ninth Station, Palaspas, flat rattan, wicker, acrylic paint, Korean burial cloth, blood. Image courtesy the artist.

I really enjoyed delving into the rich tradition of religious iconography when approaching this work. This piece references a Filipino religious cultural tradition during Easter of palaspas (woven palm frond). The palm fronds are ornately woven before being blessed by the priest. They are then taken home to hang above the door in order to remove negativity, bring good fortune, and act as an amulet of protection for the ensuing year.

I explore the potential of using basket making techniques to make sculpture. This brings many challenges—the individual character of each fibre, for example. A fibre may be thin, thick, agile, or stiff. There is a definitive yielding in the process where the natural materials ask to speak for themselves. There is an antediluvian honesty in the end form.

You cannot rise until after you have fallen. You cannot grow without being challenged. You cannot hate when you are filled with love.

The Ninth Station is not so much about falling, but being caught.