Beneath our cities, a torrent of raw sewage surges relentlessly toward the ocean. Current reports state that, on a daily basis, the city of Cape Town pumps 32-million litres of raw sewage out to the surrounding sea. ‘Tides of Sewage’ serves as a reminder of the urgent need to improve wastewater management for protecting our waterways and safeguarding marine ecosystems. The focus of the piece is a group of beachgoers swimming in the confines of a massive sewage pipe. The hand built pipe has a rough and rusty texture, achieved due to the use of oxides, suggesting years of use and neglect. The murky waters are covered with batches of grey foam, achieved by application of handcrafted reactive glaze, highlighting the health hazard for the living creatures being exposed to the water. The stark contrasts of colourful swimsuits agains the rest of the sculpture highlights gleeful aspirations of comfort and convenience that contribute to tarnishing the very shores humans seek to enjoy.
Materials: Stoneware clay, handcrafted reactive glaze, oxides, underglaze, clear glaze.
Measurements: 20 cm x 21 cm x 21 cm