WATER COMES FROM HEAVEN

Sara Christensen, Water Comes From Heaven I, 2012 glass and epoxy h = 9, Ø 8,5 cm edition of 3

I'm not yet through digesting my Atlantic sailing trip, remembering bits and pieces of all kinds of places, people, texts I read, and moments that led up to it. One artist, one exhibition, and one sculpture in particular come to mind: Water comes from heaven by Danish artist Sara Christensen. I worked with Sara during gallery times. Her memorable exhibition entitled When ships sink, they do it in water pointed in the direction of the realm of the maritime.

I kept this piece and am very much cherishing it, looking at it often, as it is prominently placed in my bookshelf. Back then in 2012, I imagined water-filled glasses on a rolling ship on the ocean, with liquid going sideways when swells pass underneath. (but wait...is that a changed memory?) I also thought about the accumulation of symbolism, idioms, phrases, and wisdom around water itself.

I held the glass in my hand, and wondered why she used this type of tumbler, which we know for drinking whiskies and other hard liquor. Sara said that she wanted a simple form, an average glass, not too fancy, but a tip towards enjoyment, in other words, a glass that she could have used herself... cheap as it might have been.... Of course, that makes sense. After all, Sara often uses materials from her immediate environment, parts of day-to-day objects, containing elements of what we need to survive, and transformed into art.

I take a good look again, 12 years later, and think this sculpture captures a brief moment in time of an action we take millionfold in our lives: a glass of water in our hands, raised to drink, brought to our lips to take a sip, and in this moment the water naturally tilts sideways. Stop. It's a frozen depiction of a process that would be physically impossible, except if we let the water freeze. What's my point?

Water, as life, is in constant movement, except when frozen. It flows, it pushes, it twirls and bubbles, it cools and warms, it keeps us alive, gives birth and kills. Art too seems in constant flux. As time passes, one's life gets enriched with many experiences—good, bad, and everything in between—which lead to changes in beliefs, perceptions, and personal meanings. In other words, what we may have believed once, we no longer believe now. Our memories change as well, each time anew, as we swim along, with each moment influencing our realities. Water flows.

As I review the epoxy-filled glass today, I also think of the many places on earth lacking drinking water, or being hit by catastrophes like floods. It prompts me to pause before I take a sip of water, remembering and appreciating that Water comes from heaven.

Sara Korshøj Christensen uses various media to tailor her approach to each project. Her art draws from everyday experiences, using materials chosen for their potential for expansion and change. She humorously explores universal and existential themes through familiar elements, without seeking definitive answers.

https://www.sarachristensen.net/