In de kamer, 1996

'In de kamer’ by Helen Frik (1960, Great Britain) is made of alabaster. This translucent white stone is soft, enabling it to be easily carved and making it a popular material throughout history for sculpting decorative artifacts. However, its solubility in water makes it unsuitable for outdoor work. In an intriguing reversal of applications, Frik has transformed a stone used for indoor decoration into a homely shelter. A miniscule table and vase with a single flower can be made out in the stone’s snug interior. As the light fall changes, the room is intermittingly bathed in light shining through its alabaster walls. Frik’s work is a reminder of the beauty of our natural resources and of every human’s need for a place to shelter from the harsh realities of life.