Foetal Attraction

New figurative ceramics at The Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Anatomy Museum, Latvia.
18th August 2022 - 26th January 2023

HERE COME THE FOETS!!

Lovable mischief-makers is the most polite way to describe ‘The Foets’ which emerge from Paddy’s ceramics studio. They love to perform, delight, amuse and occasionally horrify - to their immense delight! The Foets just love to put on a show whether it’s interpreting song titles and lyrics - often misheard, paying homage to American carnival acts, interpreting inspirational and memorable moments in literature and popular culture or just responding to day to day news events and things which happen throughout their day. It could even be claimed that Paddy’s Foets are something of an alter ego of his, for many of his Foets enjoy re-enacting moments from his past, much to Paddy’s chagrin. Whether they are being brutally autobiographical, or just putting on a juggling act with eyeballs, they always aim to raise a smile, even if it is for their own amusement.

The Foets particularly enjoy imposing themselves on unlikely venues to entertain unsuspecting patrons. They especially enjoy making their presence felt in and around museum collections, often interacting or responding to specific exhibits whilst always remaining entirely respectful to their hosts.

Born of high fired earthenware and embellished with high gloss crazing glazes and precious metal lustres, The Foets undergo multiple firings to achieve unique and rich surface qualities. They absolutely insist on it!

Pharmaziemuseum, Intervention. Basel, Switzerland. Oct 2021 - Jan 2022

October 2021 saw the first infiltration by The Foets in a major museum. The Intervention of Foets at the Pharmaziemuseum, Basel, Switzerland was created as part of Paddy’s commissioned work for the 125th Anniversary celebrations of the pharmaceutical company F. Hoffman-La Roche. Museum Curator Dr. Philippe Wanner welcomed over 30 specially created Foets to the museum and on the whole The Foets were pretty well behaved on their first public outing.

Foetus Interruptus at The Historical Archive, F. Hoffman-La Roche. Basel, Switzerland.

After beguiling audiences at the Pharmaziemuseum Basel, The Foets relocated to the F. Hoffman La-Roche Historical Archive by invitation of Curator Mr Alexander Bieri. In need of a little rest and rehabilitation following their run at the Pharmaziemuseum, The Foets can be found in and amongst the objects and documents housed in the collection before they are welcomed into the Roche permanent art collection.

2021 10 09 PharmazieMuseum_The Cost of Life 2510.jpg

‘Foetal Attraction’ at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Anatomy Museum

18th August 2022 - 26th January 2023

Buoyed by the fun they had at Pharmaziemuseum Basel and at the Roche Historical Archive, The Foets next seduced Professor Juris Salaks, Director of the Institute of the History of Medicine at Riga Stradins University. Professor Salaks and his colleague Senior Curator Ieva Lībie invited The Foets to send a new cohort from Paddy’s studio to take over The Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Anatomy Museum, Latvia from August 2022. Over a hundred new Foets will be populating the museum for a six month intervention, interacting with exhibits and doing their utmost to delight and entertain patrons of the museum.

A key phrase which has informed the approach The Foets will take at the museum is the notion that in regards the human body, diﬀerence is normal. This is a perspective which is of particular importance to the museum and its approach to informing visitors about the collection. To be the same or identical is highly unusual, variation both visible and under the surface of the body are the norm. With this in mind, variation from what may be perceived as ‘the norm’ is a particular focus of this collection of Foets. In addition to interacting directly with exhibits, The Foets have drawn on inspirational elements from corporeal popular sub/culture, interpretations of song titles and lyrics featuring body parts, Latvian phrases which incorporate bodily references and inspiration from the novels of Roald Dahl and in particular, Katherine Dunn’s modern classic ‘Geek Love’. A number of The Foets populating the museum refer directly to the characters in Geek Love, a dark fairy tale of carnival show-runners Al and Lil Binewski and their uniquely ‘in utero-intervened’ oﬀspring of carnival acts and all the murder, deceit and jealousy that transpires

—————— Selected Artworks from Foetal Attraction ——————

The Foetruvian Men

Skin

The Foetruvian Men

The Foets present their very own interpretations of the iconic drawing by Leonardo da Vinci visualising the proportions of man after Vutruvius. The Foets find it ironic that these so called ideal proportions are illustrated by a multi limbed figure.

Skin

Here The Foets present their own interpretation of the Roald Dahl Novel ‘Skin’. Their performance here is also a wry comment on the value of art being inherent in its location and placement.

CrossEyes the Clowns and their Juggling Jerkies (featuring PipSqueak)

Who Isn’t amazed by the skill of jugglers? CrossEyes the Clowns and their Juggling Jerkies certainly are and they get 10 out of 10 for effort and enthusiasm despite their lack of ability. PipSqueak is finding the going tough but stick with it PipSqueak, youv’e TOTALLY got this!

Jonny Eck and the Eee-By-Ecks

The Class of the Binewski Fabulon

Jonny Eck and the ‘Eee By-Eck’s’

The Foets pay Homage to carnival performer Jonny ‘Eck’ Eckhart with his ficticious backing boy band ‘The Eee-By-Ecks’, an interpretation of the Yorkshire phrase ‘By-Eck’ meaning ‘Bloody Hell’

The Class of the Binewski Fabulon

The Foets LOVE Katherine Dunn’s modern classic novel, 'Geek Love’, so much so, the front row of this class reunion features the Binewski Children in all their uniqueness.

The Nightmare Brothers -or- I Wanna be your Dog

The Heartbreakers -or- The Nutcracker…sweet!

The Oculolinctarians

The Heartbreakers -or- The Nutcracker…sweet! (featuring Tears of a Clown)

This pair of hammer and iron bar wielding Foets are created specifically to interact with particular exhibits in the Anatomy Museum Riga. But until they arrive in Riga, they are happy to enact ‘Nutcracker…sweet! with another site specific pair of Foets,' ‘Tears of a Clown’. Crack those skulls boys!

**The Oculolinctarians -or- ‘Just how is ‘Worming’ supposed to make it sound any more appealing?’**

One of the more ‘specialist interest’ past-times of a few of The Foets is indulging in a little Oculolinctus or eyeball licking. They agree that calling it Worming really doesnt help with the public image of this particular fetish. Hey Foets, this one is all yours. No seriously, it is!