262. Three Wise Monkeys
Title: Three Wise Monkeys (working title)
Date: None
Subject: Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil
Measurements: 8” W x 5” D x 5 5/8” H
Materials and Techniques: Wooden board, wooden forms, wooden shoe lasts
Description: Attached to a horizontal wooden board are three heel portions of shoe lasts, each attached to the board at the bottom portion of the shoe last so that the heel portion faces the viewer. Each shoe last represents the face of a monkey, each with two drilled holes that represent eyes, and a large drilled hole in the heel portion, representing an open mouth. Small, rounded wooden forms are attached to each monkey’s face. On the first monkey, there are two wooden forms that represent hands covering his ears. On the second monkey, one wooden form is stuffed into the monkey’s mouth. On the third monkey, two wooden forms represent hands covering the monkey’s eyes. Together, this image represents the ancient Japanese maxim: “Hear no evil, see no evil, speak to evil.”
Note: Exhibited at Camden Art Centre, 1980