Father Tongue, 2024
Description :
Father Tongue considers silence as a form of inherited language. A tongue rests upside down within the mouth while a pillow presses against it, transforming an object associated with comfort and rest into an instrument of restraint. The work originates from advice passed from father to son: in difficult situations, remaining silent can carry greater weight than speaking. If Mother Tongue explores expression through voice and presence, Father Tongue proposes its counterpart, communication through withholding. The solidity of black marble gives physical weight to this absence of speech, suggesting that restraint is not emptiness but a deliberate act. Together, the tongue and pillow position silence as something learned, practiced, and passed between generations.
