Manuela Zervudachi

Out of the Box

2019

The first thing that came to me with this project is the expression “Out of the box,” meaning something that does not follow the rules. So, though there are the constraints of the matchbox, as you open it, what is inside, the soft kapok wants to come out, and slowly expands “out of the box.” The lentils logically should be in the box but instead are used to cover and decorate the box. The second matchbox follows the rules, though the matchsticks have come out and now cover the box. Of course, as a sculptor, I wanted to use the sense of touch and materiality. A matchbox weighs so little! So I filled it with clay and its weight imposes. In it are fingerprints, like a signature, a trace or an invitation to touch and place your own fingers in the prints to make that connection with another human being. The third matchbox is filled with wax and has a simple puzzle inside. You take out the small square and circle and as it is such a malleable material your own handling of the pieces means it is evolving with those that touch it.