Will Yackulic’s fascinatingly intricate tiny sculptures—"Enigma Variations"—are on display in a solo show at Gregory Lind Gallery in San Francisco until July 26. Each of twenty-one stoneware vessels is interesting from the outside: their unique geometric patterns and smokestack bottlenecks form miniature relics that are intended to represent the personalities of twenty-one of Yackulic’s friends.
Untitled (Strangers), 2014
Stoneware
Their insides are remarkable too. As a part of this process, the artist asked each of his subjects to put something inside their portraits. Yackulic doesn’t know what’s in each vessel, nor do any of his friends know which of the vessels contains his or her object. The subjects’ contributions were made in private; then, the artist sealed each bottle without looking inside. Thus, the enigma is such for everyone involved in the process, from artist to subject to viewer.
Untitled (Strangers II), 2013 – 2014
Stoneware
dimensions variable
Yackulic hopes this enigma will live on, so that when future archeologists uncover his mini-masterpieces they will wonder at their contents as intently as his contemporary viewers.
Trait Family B, 2014
Stoneware
5 x 2 3/8 x 2 3/8 inches
Gregory Lind Gallery 49 Geary Street San Francisco, CA 94108 gregorylindgallery.com Tuesday-Saturday 11-5:30