Garland Award for Innovative Storied Object
Celine Babet explores how a cultural lifestyle has influenced her sense of self by making works of multiple ceramic components. Through her conceptual research, she draws upon childhood memories and family relationships, which are deeply rooted in Italian culture. Babet feels these experiences have significantly shaped both her identity and practice. Her works incorporate cornicellos and dried chilli forms to create a new body of work. The cornicello symbol is believed within her culture to provide protection against bad wishes from others. Babet re-imagines existing cultural forms, uncovering new meanings by presenting them within the new context of hanging chillies. This juxtaposition of traditional imagery and contemporary styles is further emphasised through her use of colour and materiality. The large quantity of cornicellos in her work suggests an abundance is necessary to offer protection in today’s society.
