The Alchemy of the Everyday

• Main Author: Soderberg, Nanda
• Format: Others
• Published: VCU Scholars Compass 2007
• Subjects: everyday objects; hip hop; glass; battuto; mixed media; wood panel; transformation of the mundane; Arts and Humanities; Fine Arts
• Online Access: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/665; http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1664&context=etd

Everyday objects inspire and inform what I do. The personal histories and associations we may have with ordinary things are of great personal interest to me. Often times, these items reflect the social class, education, and background of the owners. I am drawn to these objects and the possibility of elevating them in a way that transcends their implied meanings (their worth, importance, and status). The transformation of the mundane is a method of working that allows associations to remain intact while bringing new meaning and perspective to the object. My method of working becomes an alchemic process aimed at turning the ordinary into "art" which is second only to turning used cooking oil into fuel to run your car, and maybe third to turning lead into gold.