Teacup

1997

A video of an ocean storm swirls within a perfect china teacup.

The film circling within the cup is a clip from the famous film Man of Aran, made by Robert Flaherty in the 1930’s. It depicts island life on the Aran Islands which lie on the extreme Atlantic west coast of Ireland. A currach, a traditional island boat, is seen out at sea battling a great storm. It is eventually swept onto the rocks and fragments. The loop repeats and repeats.

The delicate china cup would have been used for afternoon tea within polite British society. Here it appears to contain the ocean – a futile attempt to tame or colonise nature.

The video, when shown, is on a monitor or projected the actual size of the teacup.