‘WHAT MEN OR GODS ARE THESE?’

(2024)

PLASTER, PORCELAIN, ACRYLIC PAINT, CYANOTYPE, CEMENT, INSULATION FOAM, PACKING CHIPS, SAND, WOOD

DIMENSIONS VARIABLE

Grounded in her studies on Ancient Greek art, Maisie explored the way in which we look back at Grecian vases as precious relics and yet they were used in most households as domestic objects to mix or drink wine. These vases would be used most often in all-male landscapes such as symposiums. If these vases depicted women, they would be presented either being abducted, to be killed or raped, or working as prostitutes. In order to explore the relationship between violence, exploitation and femicide with the convivial masculine landscape, Maisie has transferred this imagery onto the modern day drink-vessel of milk bottles whilst also incorporating modern equivalents such as ‘tart cards’ and the parallel between Zeus extending an arm to abduct a woman with the CCTV footage in which Sarah Everard is reached out to by the police officer who abducted, raped and killed her. The works are displayed in a dioramic installation calling to ideas of what we leave behind become relics and reinstates themes of mass-production and the commercialisation of violence towards women.

Aquarium filled with cloudy, yellow-green water, containing milk jugs with silhouettes resembling ancient designs, placed on a white pedestal in a room with white walls.
Three differently decorated milk bottles displayed on a shelf, featuring designs resembling ancient Greek art.
Three painted jugs on a white surface, one with a silhouette of Medusa slain, surrounded by dark sand-like material.
Close-up of a black painted plastic jug next to a large green textured object on a white surface. The bottle features CCTV footage of the kidnapping of Sarah Everard
Concrete block with black silhouette of a warrior holding a spear, placed on dark pebbles.
Ancient Greek pottery depicting a mythological scene with figures, including a winged character, on a black background.
Small black jug with Greek-style painting, depicting figures in ancient attire.
Green textured foam sculpture resembling a container, alongside a small black bottle with a worn design.
Melted silver plastic bottle standing on pile of black granules.
Aquarium-like glass container with submerged objects; a bottle with ancient Greek-style figures is visible on the right.
A black and brown object cushioned in green packing peanuts in a white box.
A white plastic gallon jug with a handle placed inside a recessed wall niche.
Green packing peanuts surrounding a partially visible black object with a pattern on it.
Artistic sculptures resembling containers with abstract designs on a textured black surface.
Decorative jugs with artistic designs on a white shelf, surrounded by black granular material.
Art exhibit featuring decorated jugs with ancient Greek-style figures and designs, placed on display blocks.
Art installation with various sculpted bottles and a fish tank. The sculptures include black, green, and textured bottles with intricate designs, arranged on a white pedestal. A translucent tank filled with liquid is in the background.