The Work is not the Work is an experimental exhibition featuring six exquisitely formed ceramic vessels. The exhibition is part of
Moseley’s research that tests the limits of what an artwork can be. These works pose the question as to whether an artist can claim
someone else’s consciousness as their own artwork.
In a conceptual twist, Moseley is claiming the consciousness of leading social media and technological moguls, such as Mark Zucherberg and Elon Musk as his artwork. Their respective consciousnesses are represented by the vessels in the gallery. The vessels themselves are not considered by the artist to be the work at all.
The exterior of the vessels is covered in wafer thin overlapping petals of clay that demonstrate a new technique pioneered by Moseley in this body of work.
Be brave
IMAGE > [Top] Ellis Moseley, The Work is not the Work [installation view], 2022. Image courtesy of the artist.
Photograph Tim Standing.
IMAGE > Ellis Moseley, the vessel (1 of 3) accompanying the work The Consciousness of Sergey and
Larry, 2021, terracotta
and buff raku trachyte blend, mid fire quartz and turquoise stain, 60 x 20 x 20 cm.
Image courtesy of the artist. Photograph: Wil Nolan
.