Mind the Tongue, 2024
Description :
Mind the Tongue transforms the surface of a tongue into a series of speed breakers, connecting the regulation of physical movement with the regulation of speech. On a road, speed breakers force us to slow down before moving forward; here, they perform the same function metaphorically, interrupting the impulse to speak without reflection. The upward curve of the tongue extends this idea, suggesting that restraint and considered speech can contribute to personal growth and progress. Carved entirely from black marble, the work gives permanence and physical weight to a moment that normally lasts only seconds: the decision to pause before speaking. Through humor and a familiar everyday symbol, the sculpture proposes that sometimes slowing down is precisely what allows us to move upward.
