48 hours, 24 minutes & 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.

Install view at Adderton: House and Heart of Mercy, Meanjin/Brisbane 2019. Photography: Greg Henderson and Grace Yu

Install view at Frankston Art Centre, Naarm/Melbourne 2023. Photography: Dan Elborne

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.

According to the most recent global estimate by the World Health Organisation, a person dies by suicide once every 40 seconds. In performative 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. The performance period 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. The performance 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. This results in individualised loosely-figurative objects. For the primary purpose of suicide awareness and prevention, 48 Hours, 24 Minutes and 15 Seconds results from 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 the objects would indefinitely continue. The production of the work was streamed live via Youtube. The pieces created during the performance will be first exhibited in June of 2019 as one of seven artist/social enterprise collaborations for A Fierce Hope, the keynote exhibition for Brisbane’s newest art and cultural hub Adderton: house & heart of mercy. __________________________________________________________________________________ This work is being made in partnership with 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, care facilities to treat and aid those suffering mental illnesses and a place to go to for those who are suicidal. For more information on the work of the White Wreath Association, please visit and consider donation at: https://www.whitewreath.org.au/ Official webpage: http://www.danelborne.com/tbd/