Pair of Ceramic table lamps by Jenna Basso Pietrobon, Brick 02 is part of her larger project “Brick Block, Tick Tock”.
Brick Block, Tick Tock explores themes of silence, reconstruction, and gender equality, urging viewers to reflect on the systemic silencing of women and the transformative potential of rebuilding—both personally and societally. Through the medium of light, the project shines awareness on contemporary issues, many of which the artist has experienced firsthand. This multifaceted collection is a gestalt, encompassing lighting, furniture, vases, photography, installation, performance, audio, and etching. Layered with symbolism, homage, and innovation, the work confronts oppression and envisions a future grounded in equality. Brick Block, Tick Tock draws from the legacy of Basso Pietrobon’s two grandfathers from Veneto, Italy—one a bricklayer and construction worker, the other a ceramicist. Pietrobon’s ten years working in New York City’s construction industry, further exposed her to the pervasive realities of gender-based violence and systemic inequalities. These personal and professional experiences, combined with her reflections on the complex and controversial relationship between artists Carl Andre and Ana Mendieta, became the foundation for this symbolic project. Drawing on Jasper Johns’s infamous saying, “Take an object. Do something to it. Do something else to it,” the brick sculptures are accompanied by photographs and paintings which duplicate these dimensional forms. The bricks are used for the concept of constructing and building a home, but I am also interested in bringing these building forms to create objects for the home itself, such as lamps, tables, and wall dividers.
Source: Jenna Basso