the mind that bends 2018 — paige northwood

‘The mind that bends’ is a philosophical and experiential exploration into expanded perspective and awareness. “If the doors of perception were cleansed, the universe would appear as it is, infinite” William Blake. An investigation into states of consciousness, the body of work studied a state known as ‘flow’, a state of complete presence and full immersion in the activity. Steven Kotler describes the state as action and awareness merging and your sense of self vanishing. Time distorts and the brain function is increased dramatically (memory and pattern recognition). Through the creation of coiling, extruding and carving, the works demanded complete presence and thus the state was reached.

The hand-built vessels and wall works are all stoneware and high temperature gas fired and thus fully vitrified. The pallet is reflective of the artists surroundings in a studio on the ocean of the south coast of NSW. The work references the film the matrix with extruded clay spoons that are distorted over vessels. “Do not try and bend the spoon, that's impossible. instead, only try to realise the truth...there is no spoon. Then you will see it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.”