Water Lilies #52

Donald Lipski (b. 1947) is well known for his mixed-media installations and sculptures that question the conventional definitions of art. This artist does not always use glass, but prefers to explore a variety of materials. Much of his recent work examines the properties of organic materials and the operation of ecological systems, which are presented in an industrial, pseudo-scientific context. Lipski favors heavy-duty industrial and scientific glasses that are manufactured by companies such as Corning and Schott. He uses the thick-walled, acid-resistant tanks, spheres, and tubing to enclose and preserve delicate and ephemeral substances, such as plants. Water Lilies #52 functions as a kind of still life that uses actual vegetables instead of paint. In this sculpture, a bunch of carrots floats inside industrial glass tubing, hermetically sealed with a heavy steel clamp. The preservative solution keeps the carrots in suspended animation, with only their color gradually fading over time.