Vessel of Illusion
Vessel of Illusion
VESSEL OF ILLUSION
Rhea Kalo for ‘ΗΛΙΟΔΩΡΟΝ’
Vessel of Illusion explores ideas of the sun, rebirth and the vessel as a form of potential. The work begins with a found terracotta object originating from the Greek island of Mytilini, repurposed and transformed by hand. Terracotta itself has an elemental relationship with the sun: before firing, the clay is traditionally left to dry in its heat. The sun therefore exists within the work both materially and symbolically, as a fundamental force of the Greek landscape.
Once a utilitarian object created to contain and preserve, the vessel is given a second life as an artwork. Its enclosed form evokes the symbolism of the egg: a protective structure holding something unseen within, and with it the possibility of nourishment, life and transformation.
Across its surface, the phrase “control is an illusion” is painted repeatedly by hand. The inscription reflects a recurring concern within my practice; the tension between our desire to impose order and the natural forces that ultimately govern life.
Through the repurposing of an existing object, the work becomes itself an act of rebirth: an object from the past carrying the possibility of something new.
Ceramic amphora from Mytilini, Greece, with hand-written text by Rhea Kalo.
One of a kind.
Height: 26cm
Diameter: 12cm
ABOUT THE PROJECT
A creative, collaborative project curated by Despina Vergidi Studio for its 5th anniversary. ‘ΗΛΙΟΔΩΡΟΝ’ invites twelve artists, creatives and wellness practitioners to create a unique one-of-a-kind or limited-edition design or artwork, or an immersive experience inspired by the studio’s symbols — the SUN and the EGG — and their symbolisms.
The theme is open to interpretation, giving participants the space to approach it in their own unique way, through the prism that joy is worth pursuing — a concept extensively explored in artist and academic Ellie Tsatsou-Palmer’s innovative educational project Integrated Creativity.
JULY 14 – OCTOBER 31 2026
Read more on despinavergidi.studio/heliodoron