Black Sheep/Toolbox
Knife
Ceramic knife, one of an installation of 20 knives by Tunisian artist Malek Gnaoui. Made in white clay, Tunis, 2014.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Title | Black Sheep/Toolbox (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Ceramic knife, one of an installation of 20 knives by Tunisian artist Malek Gnaoui. Made in white clay, Tunis, 2014. |
| Credit line | Presented by Art Fund |
| Object history | Malek Gnaoui references Tunisian popular beliefs and cultural traditions. The installation here includes work from his Black Sheep series, which references the ritual sacrifice of sheep during the 'id al-adha festival, celebrated by Muslims throughout the world following the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The works are made from delicate bisque-fired clay whose whiteness belies the bloodiness of the slaughter. The carcase in Black Sheep/Dead Meat was made using a combination of moulding and modelling, while the knives in Black Sheep/Toolbox are moulded from actual knives that have been used in sacrifices. They bear the star and crescent moon of the Tunisian national flag. (See references). |
| Bibliographic reference | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | ME.17-2020 |
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| Record created | February 21, 2020 |
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