48 hours, 24 minutes and 15 seconds, 2018 - 19.
Terracotta & glaze. Variable large-scale dimensions. 2018 - 19.
This project is partnered with the White Wreath Association: Action Against Suicide, Australia.
Photography: Greg Henderson and Grace Yu
At the time this work was made, the most recent global estimate by the World Health Organisation concluded that a person dies by suicide once every 40 seconds. In the years since, this problem has worsened.
In response and using terracotta, the artist created a handmade piece every 40 seconds, with no breaks, as a 1:1 representation of each death by suicide within the finite period of the performance. Production commenced at Alexandra Lawson Gallery on the morning of Monday, September 10th, 2018 (World Suicide Prevention Day) and lasted for 48 Hours, 24 Minutes and 15 Seconds, resulting in 4,356 ceramic pieces. Production ceased due to the artist reaching a personal limit of mental and physical capacity. The action performed within every 40 second period involved refining the edges and base of an extruded clay form, then leaving a gestural thumb impression at the peak of each piece; creating individualised, loosely-figurative objects.
For the primary purpose of suicide awareness and prevention, 48 Hours, 24 Minutes and 15 Seconds was a fleeting performance in response to an ongoing crisis. Having the creation of the work cease due to mental and physical inability suggests that despite its production coming to an end, if capable, the creation of these objects would indefinitely continue.
The production of the work was streamed live via Youtube with a direct donate link to the White Wreath Association: Action Against Suicide, an Australian non-profit organisation working as a suicide prevention/awareness service. The primary vision of the White Wreath Association is to raise funds in order to establish Safe-Haven Centres and care facilities to treat and aid those suffering mental illnesses and suicidal ideation. For more information on the work of the White Wreath Association, please visit and consider donation at: https://www.whitewreath.org.au/
Process images of the 'performative element' of the project. Photography: Alexandra Lawson.
