Year: 2024
Medium: European modernist sewing box, 3 LED lights illuminated by fruits
Dimensions: 57 x 44 x 33 cm (22 1/2 x 17 3/8 x 13 in.)
Acquired from Mother’s Tankstation, 2024
In this work titled “Decomposition,” pieces of fruit are placed on top of an old sewing box with legs, and light bulbs dangle from underneath the box. Electrodes have been plugged into each fruit, and the repeated flickering of the light bulbs underneath suggests that there is some kind of interrelation between the fruit and the electric lights. The high water content of fruits makes them conductive, and the level of electrical resistance can be used to measure the volume of water. Mohri takes advantage of this principle by using fruits to generate sound waves and electrical signals. As indicated by the title “Decomposition”, the pieces of fruit arranged as part of this work are slowly bound to decay and die by decomposition as microbial activity leeches away their internal water. This may be part of the natural order, an irreversible phenomenon that nothing can be done except let decay run its course. However, Mohri makes an unexpected intervention and is confronted with the march of time. Fruit is a leading motif in still-life paintings and is perceived as motionless. However, during the process of decomposition as mentioned, the internal water volume is constantly changing, leading to a subtle yet continual decline of weight and volume and changes to shape and color, and organic, biological activities such as the growth of mold and decomposition. “Decomposition” magnifies these slow transformations, which are otherwise difficult for humans to perceive and transport them into the realm of the visible and audible. A similar work was exhibited at the Japanese Pavilion of the 60th Venice Biennale.
