These delicate structures grow spontaneously
from solutions of salts, including ordinary table salt. Salts mixed into
water creep slowly up paper tubes, drip onto fabric, and seep down the
cotton strings suspended above. As the water in the solution evaporates,
the salt crystallizes. The color and character of the crystal depend on
the type of salt. The crystals grow slowly, but eventually the long vines
hanging above will reach down to the table.
Dimensions: 65" x 108"
x 65" Weight: 400 lbs.
Artist's Comments:
These fragile structures grow spontaneously
from salt and fertilizer solutions. Besides regular table salt you see
how copper, iron, chrome, and other salt-type things slowly crystallize.
Saturated solutions are crawling out of their containers, spreading out,
and shooting into the air. While the water evaporates, the salt crystallizes.
We do not see a single crystal growing, but
countless tiny crystals building up shapes-reminding us of corals, plants,
landscapes, or clouds.
The different characters are influenced by
the composition of the liquids. By adding a tiny amount of a certain substance,
the whole structure can change completely. But the tempature and humidity
of the room, the air movement, the carrier-material, the starting point
can influence the growth.
It is not possible to repeat the same process
with the exact same result, like you cannot drink the same glass of water
twice. You won't be able to calculate the process by formulas. Just by
working with the salt and looking at the slow changes can you learn about
it.
Following the reaction of two salt mixtures
on the table, it looks like a meeting of human characters: attraction,
rejection, indifference. In our time the material value of salt is very
low, people lost respect for this essential force. Many cultures worshiped
salt because it was rare, and they know we can't live without it. It became
the first kind of money. We still have it in the word salary. To spill
it means bad luck and offering it with bread means friendship.
