frozen water 2000

Carsten Nicolai’s installation features glass vessels filled with water, echoing alchemical traditions. The sphere, a symbol of perfection and the cosmos, appears here as a container of water, an element representing fluidity, change, and the subconscious. Consider how the motif of water-filled vessels appears in various contexts—from ancient Greek hydriai used in rituals to Renaissance paintings where water signifies purity or baptism. Water is a symbol that is deeply rooted in the collective psyche; it evokes both serenity and the chaos of the unconscious. In this setting, the vessels become metaphors for the human mind, holding within them the potential for reflection and transformation. By presenting these containers within a contemporary art context, Nicolai invites us to reflect on how ancient symbols persist, resurfacing in new forms, and provoking subconscious connections across time. It's a dance of cultural memory, constantly evolving, yet eternally present.