2002-present day
Plastic model soldiers

A bowl made by melting model soldiers. There are two versions: the blue Battle of Waterloo, Half British Artillery, half French Infantry and the white 'English Civil War' War Bowl.

'The inspiration for the War Bowl came from a combination of ideas.

I wanted to create a new material that would work on more levels than the usual qualities such as texture and functionality. My aim was to make a material that had a voice of it's own, not just a passive lifeless thing. I started with the idea of combining small objects in order to create something larger. I arrived at the idea of using toy soldiers as my ingredients. As found objects, they seemed to represent something of a paradox. On one hand they were a fun childhood toy that brought back happy memories and on the other, they were a representation of war with it's associated horrors. This is a contrast that I find slightly uneasy.'
If you wish to purchase a War Bowl please contact Thorsten van Elten here