Tag Archives: concept

Navigator 1999 Revisited. State of some 001.

This is going to be a weekly update, if anything it will help me eventually finish the job so to speak. It is not usual my way of doing things, but there is always an exception. The main reasons are priorities and time.

This is a new phase, and learning on the job. These ceramic tablets, as there are visual images to communicate with outer space, a la Mariner space program, but not the Ten Commandments. The state of many is very poor, as they have been in a water-logged condition.

Most of the time, the best solution is to let them dry, and then they could be handled. As the example above they just disintegrate, not a healthy prospect as they might end up on your foot.

Navigator 1999 Revisited #137

The above image is the reverso ( the back side.) of Ceramic tablet #137.

Every ceramic tablet that I made for The Navigator was meant to be as individual piece, a standalone art work, solo individual peace that can coexist as part of a group. Another way of see it is thinking about it as a solo vocalist, that can accompaniment, or be part a choir. Preserving the individual of every piece is of utmost critical importance. A practice that I still carry to this day.

Some of these ceramic tablets as each carries it own massage, have a image on the reverso side ( the back side), while others don’t. Being all these years out in the natural elements took their toll. Some are in a very poor state.

Where possible and if there is no image, a number and other notation related to the number are added in acrylic paint. The advantage of this is that, that becomes its cataloging number. If it breaks when too wet, it gives you more visual clue of how to put them back together.

Then the tables are steam clean, and sealed with binder.