Artwork of the month - video (59 sec).

Ritual of Revealing Intent

Year	2025
Location	Secondroom
Materials	Ceramic tablet, ceramic pencils, transparent glaze, finger-stick blood samplers, diverse R&F F&R sculptures
For Sale	Yes, contact us
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Christine Verheyden invited Robbert and Frank to create a special performance or ritual to end SECONDroom’s cultural season in Antwerpen, Belgium.

Frank and Robbert have been making clay tablets for over ten years. Their tablets always represent a performance or a real-life action. They’re reminders of the past, just like how people used to write their lives in stone.

For SECONDroom, the artists did something new. Instead of making a clay tablet of something that’s already happened, R&F wanted to create a big clay tablet with the audience.

They set up a special space with hemp ropes and a small wooden door. Once someone stepped through the door, they were asked to draw an intention or a wish onto the clay. They could use ceramic pencils. After they were done, they needed to seal their wishes with a clear glaze. The glaze becomes clear in the kiln when it reaches a temperature of 1000°C. For now, it’s just a way to keep their wishes safe.

After sealing their wishes, the participants were asked to add a drop of blood. Frank and Robbert provided blood pens. Each pen only takes a tiny drop of blood. The blood acts like a special contract, making their wishes stronger.

At the end of the performance, the clay tablet needed to rest so the glaze could dry and the wishes could sink in. One day, when the tablet is fired, the invisible will become visible, and the audience might be able to see what has happened and what hasn’t.

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