Uvula inxiwa, 2026
Slip cast white clay
11 Part: 23,5 cm x 95 cm x 70 cm
Artist’s Statement
My work explores labour, hierarchy, sacrifice, and the physical pressures a body must carry. It evolved from an experience I had helping my big brother build houses in my home village. During this time, I became aware of how physically demanding construction work is. I also noticed the silent, almost unspoken hierarchies that exist amongst labour workers, and even inside family structures.
Using mould-making and slip casting techniques. I created a series of ceramic drills. Ten of drills are still standing, arranged like human figures, they circle around one single broken tool. That broken drill represents the instant when the body can’t keep holding the load that’s been put on it anymore. It talks about exhaustion and vulnerability, even if no one says those words directly.
This piece also links back to a personal memory of getting injured on-site, when I accidentally cut myself. Someone said jokingly “uvula inxiwa“. The expression refers to a ceremony when a goat is sacrificed, and the house is finally opened. In that moment, my injured body turned into the metaphorical offering; the thing that pays the price.
By turning industrial tools into fragile ceramic objects, I push back against the usual ideas of strength and productivity. The installation invites viewers to think about the human cost of labour, and the deep resilience people need to survive these systemic pressures, especially as they show up inside our own modern social and family structures.
