There are No Bathtubs in Hell, 2018
Shower, wood, plumbing accessories
There are no bathtubs in hell is an intimate look at our relationship with ourselves, the spaces we label as safe, and the habits we deem acceptable. Through simple intervention, two therapeutic activities are tied in rhythm: one is based on necessity, the other based on choice. The Dionysian water-turned-wine repurposes the gospel miracle into a modern moment of self-salvation.
The process of drinking and showering can both attempt to resolve stress. Both activities can be seen as cleansing, yet one contradicts as it introduces the element of intoxication and a false sense of clarity. These objects, shower and wine, taken out of their context and placed into this space triggers a familiar conversation. Through the construction of this dynamic, Shay reflects on the struggle between the internal and external and its efforts in achieving balance.
The space around the shower is left naked; exposing a side we are generally not presented with and are left to question what the intention of it is. The bare bones of the base, plumbing and exposed skeleton of the shower itself leave us to confront what is left unseen in its natural habitat and how we select what we want viewers to see of ourselves as a construction of our identity.
