A Bell for You, 2025
Porcelain Clay, Black Clay, Red Clay, Glaze Crayons, Clear Acrylic, Plastic Capsules, Wood Dust, Wood Glue, Light Boxes
I remember Doraemon, a TV series that first aired in 1979. Doraemon was about a blue robot cat from the future with a pocket full of magic gadgets and a collar with a golden bell. It was sent back in time to help a little boy who was always crying, always failing, and always bullied.
One day, in fear it was making the boy dependent on him, the cat returned home. Who knows when it'll be back. Life continues, and people start to forget about the robot cat. It seems every aspect of the cat disappeared, except a fallen bell that the boy kept by his side. All by himself, he learns to be kinder, to study well, to fight back.
One day, under the streetlight and on the swings, the cat returns to the boy. In a moment of reunion, he hands back the bell and they cry joyfully.
A Bell for You is an installation featuring two gashapon (capsule vending) machines that dispense handmade ceramic bells enclosed in clear capsules. The machines are refilled throughout the duration of the installation. Each bell carries a unique drawing or message, chemically bonded to the surface of the clay. The machines sit on twin pedestals, positioned back-to-back to encourage encounters between participants and to serve as a point of departure. As the handle is turned, the ceramic bells inside the machine collide, producing a cascade of chimes. Each bell has its own tone, creating a spontaneous and chaotic symphony.
When a capsule is released, it offers a single bell for the user to carry. The bell can be hung from a pants loop or worn in another way, resonating gently as the user moves through the gallery.
During the reception, participants are invited to ring their bells at a designated time, following a note inside the capsule, from wherever they happen to be.