Level-4 Covid Cup
Finn Ferrier (b.1981), Artist 2021 © All rights reserved See full details
Object Detail
Description
This cup was made by Ferrier especially for Aucklanders because he felt they deserved an award for staying in isolation to keep the Delta variant under control during the 2021 lockdown. When making the vessel, Ferrier used no chemical bonds - only friction - to craft the rope into an object. The object is intended by Ferrier to reflect a simple and elegant use of rope and rhythmic form that alludes to the processes of making and cyclical time. Ferrier loves rope because it is usually only thought of as being useful for practical applications, but he became interested in this connection between nautical knotwork and traditional ceramics with a skill that was previously only associated with sailors. Ferrier describes his rope-work as "giving it a holiday," due to the practicality of rope and its specialty for industry-specific work. He sees his work as the natural and logical progression of nautical knotwork. The concept for the rope-work cup/vase came about because he imagined what sailors might do with their free time, having limited space on a boat. He thought about how sailors would need objects that could weather a rough life on the sea and wouldn't break during a storm. He pictured them using his vessels for dried seaweed arrangemens, but it was important to him tha tthey would also be able to unravel the object if the rope was needed in an emergency.
Title
Level-4 Covid Cup
Production date
2021
Media
79 metres 7mm cotton rope
Measurements
350 x 280mm
Credit line
Collection of The Dowse Art Museum, purchased with the assistance of the Blumhardt Foundation 2022
Accession number
2022.10.1
