Wilted flowers and leaves droop down from the top of this ceramic vase, upon which crawl a cluster of mice whose tails spell out Til Death Do Us Part. This sculpture is one of a series of five Wedding Vows by Lindsey Mendick, each exploring a traditional wedding vow using high relief motifs in the manner of Palissy ware. The series was included in her solo show Are You Going to Destroy Me? (Goldsmiths CCA, 2020) that centred on the artist’s relationship with her fiancé – the title quoting a question she asked him on their first date. Taking a cue from the inherent vulnerability one faces within the power structures of a romantic relationship, Mendick draws on their shared love of the gothic horror movies that were a mainstay throughout their experience of the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns.
Presenting a highly personal iconography, Mendick has explained how the vases ‘poke humour at the symbiotic relationship’ between keeping a plant and a romantic relationship alive, while also celebrating her engagement to her fiancé. The mice allude to the intrusive presence and subsequent disappearance of a mouse in the couple’s home. The last of the series,
Til Death Do Us Part is a testament to resilience and commitment in the face of financial strain, when working in the creative industry in one of the most expensive cities in the world.
