Ackerman, Andrew - Patency 1

TerraTerre 2026 Biennale FRAGMENTS - 3rd prize winner

2025 - 16" h x 6" dia x 2.5" w

Patency 1 is a ceramic sculpture of an intravenous bag decorated in blue on white floral patterns. Created during a residency at the Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Centre (Denmark), it was inspired by Ackerman’s experience with open heart surgery in the spring of 2021. The IV bag was a constant companion throughout his medical journey, as his surgery coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, much of Ackerman’s recovery was spent in isolation, only briefly interrupted by visits from medical staff to attend to his IV bag. The object became a poignant symbol of his mortality, the care that was extended to him, and the fleeting moments of connection he shared with hospital staff.

The decorative surface pattern has associations with notions of comfort, care, and the familial. Upon close inspection, sections of the pattern appear to fragment, dissolve, or erode, representing those elusive moments of connection, the failure and breakdown of Ackerman’s physical body, as well as his separation from family and friends.