'Total Irreverence in Black' is a unique glass wall installation by the British artist, Elliot Walker. 

With his 'Total Irreverence' artworks, Walker questions the inherent value we place upon objects. The humble drinking vessel, arguably one of the most important human inventions, during the 15th to 17th centuries was highly revered in the guise of opulent Venetian goblets. In the pursuit of decadence, they became symbols of stature, wealth & social standing, yet despite requiring the highest levels of skills in their making, these goblets were artistically grounded by their function, an association that has held this material and its perceived role, perpetually together.

In an act of rejecting such traditional glassmaking dogma, Walker creates such goblets, each brimming with artistic prowess & splendour, but intentionally buckles, distorts and pierces them, rendering them useless for their intended purpose. In what can be seen as a moment of (total) irreverence, he sees this not as devaluing but as elevating, with each reaching a conceptual artistic status. Additionally to taunt, but also a nod to their historical origins, within each installation one goblet remains untouched, still able to function as intended, yet it is mounted as part of the whole, firmly away from use.

More recent compositions incorporate 'trick' goblets, which by definition simply do not work as intended, if overfilled. Conceived in the golden age of glassmaking, with many of their ingenious & secretive designs now lost, these are audacious in their creation. Often placed as the central 'perfect' goblet, despite their appearance, reinforce the concept of artistry as opposed to function. 

The dimensions above are the approximate size for the entire installation, each goblet is between 26cm & 30cm high.

The artist can also create pieces to commission, please contact the gallery for further information.