Dish c. 20th century

This Dish, of unknown origin, sits here with its carved lines in wood. The process of carving isn’t just about cutting away, but also about revealing what's already there in the material, like finding a drawing within the grain. And speaking of grain, look at the surface: it’s alive with texture. The carver has followed the wood's natural patterns, creating these long, winding lines. The slightly transparent brown tone deepens in the carved areas, giving depth and shadow. These repeated ovoid shapes remind me of the way a painter uses repetition to create rhythm and movement. If you focus on one specific swirl, you’ll see how it echoes the larger shape of the dish itself, a microcosm of the whole. This act of making, of finding patterns within patterns, reminds me of the art of Ree Morton. Both artists share an intuitive grasp of form and a belief in the power of simple materials to convey complex ideas. Ultimately, this Dish invites us to contemplate the endless possibilities of making.