Lent against the gallery wall in precariat fashion, a bejeweled mattress assumes the role of baked sustenance formerly for the macro-organism now donated to the micro-organism. Decay at multiple locations with perhaps some abortive toasting slowly consumes the diagonally patterned surface. The very bedrock of civilisation stands somewhat lackadaisically as it transforms from bed to bread to social mirror. A subversion of the classic still life.

Pinned with a multitude of precious and semi-precious stones the close inspection demanded evokes an entirely different experience to wry commentary. A vast nebula of colours concentrated in bands elicits the night sky of the desert, a coral reef, or human cities viewed from space. The stones themselves are culturally associated with various powers that are supposedly astrologically enhanceable.

As numerous philosophers have grappled with epistemological concerns around subjectivity this work presents a view on an object knowable in numerous ways but perhaps never its direct noumenal self. Greater scientific prowess have given us the power to probe our surroundings at deeper and deeper magnification solving problems at the previous abstraction layer only to uncover further mystery.

The best thing since sliced bread is the new sliced bread. It gleams atomically yet rots visibly.

Part of a solo exhibition Roman Meal at Gagosian 17–19 Davies Street, London from June 5 to August 15, 2025.