Thomas Tait, Mechano-Vegetal World ([Ru(bipy)3]2+), 2023. Silicone, wood, found objects, foam, metal, UV grow light, moss, and cabbage. 94 × 72 × 48 inches. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Paula De Martino
Immersed in the language of puppetry, Thomas Tait’s work borrows world-building methods from set design and kinetics thinking from performance. Often held in the fragile equilibrium of a complex system, Tait’s figurines are composed of found and organic materials. The visibility of the inner supporting structure and the unpredictability of their movement suggests an interiority to the figurines, inviting ontological speculation. For In Practice, Tait will develop a marionette pulley system organized around a central armature. By amplifying the friction within the installation, Tait’s DIY engineering explores whether a conscious "ghost" can arise from a structural apparatus. In Practice: Thomas Tait is curated by Sharon X. Liu, Asymmetry Curatorial Fellow and Jovanna Venegas, Curator.
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