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Are These Anthropomorphic Ceramics Having a Threesome?

Ronit Baranga leaves 'Embrace #1' up for interpretation, but the sculpture is very sensual.
Ronit Baranga, Embrace #1, 2016. Images courtesy the artist

Building on work presented at Banksy's Dismaland exhibition last summer, Israeli surrealist sculptor Ronit Baranga has created an anthropomorphic tea set that looks, to the casual observer like something that might take place in the cupboards after Beauty and the Beast fall asleep. Human fingers and orifices sprout from the floral print tea pot and cups and they grasp at one another with enough vigor to completely warp each other's pale bodies. The kitchenware oozes passion, and it's impossible to look at the smaller tea cup's parted lips without imagining a moan—or perhaps a scream.

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The sculpture's title, Embrace #1, is an accurate, if understated, description of the rendezvous Baranga has captured. When we ask just what was going on in the new work she's been showing off on Instagram, she responds, "I leave this to the interpretation of the viewers." It seems unlikely that the three fleshy reservoirs rubbing up against one another is a platonic encounter, especially considering the winky faces accompanying her Instagram posts of the sculpture. We concede that the scene could simply show the lead up to or come down from the ménage à trois—admittedly, we don't know enough about teapot's anatomy to confirm or deny this theory.

Embracing "Embraced #1" ;-) #ART #BARANGA #SCULPTURE #CLAY #HANDSCULPTURE #STUDIOSHOTS

A photo posted by Ronit Baranga (@ronitbaranga) on

Jul 31, 2016 at 10:28am PDT

 
Elaborating on her inspiration for Embrace #1, Baranga tells The Creators Project, "This series evolved from previous works of mine, Breakfast and Untitled Feast from Banksy's Dismaland. All of these series deal with interactions. The last series—the most physical so far."

Ronit Baranga, Embrace #1, 2016

Ronit Baranga, Embrace #1, 2016

With only these cryptic comments to go on, we leave the discussion to you, dear readers. Tweet us @CreatorsProject with your opinions: What the hell is going on in this sculpture?

Embrace #1 is on display at the Tel Aviv-based Hanina Gallery's group show Israeli Creators, which opened Thursday. See more of Ronit Baranga's work on her website.

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