For this piece, featured in the Of What Remains Exhibition in March 2024, I drew inspiration from the ancient Greek myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods of Olympus to give to his human creations. Prometheus had immense love and joy from humans, so he wanted to improve their lives. Unfortunately, Zeus, the king of the gods, becomes enraged at Prometheus when he finds out and curses Prometheus to be chained to a rock for eternity. Not only that, but an eagle would come down every day and tear out his liver, and it would regrow each night to continue this vicious cycle. This piece is quite literally Prometheus’s Liver, talon marks and all. The front side is jagged, like torn flesh in some areas, but polished in others. A small fetal figure emerges on the back side, sitting among etched swirls and flames. The piece is a lost wax kiln-formed glass piece made to be touched and held to the light. Disembowelment is a visceral and tactile experience, so carrying a three-pound human-scale glass liver and running one’s fingers along the cuts makes this act come more to life for the viewer.
Alexandra Faye Friedman 