Tanivu Tapari 

Makotaay's Spinning Top, 2022

Clay

11.81× 5.51 in., 8.66 × 4.33 in., 7.87 × 3.94 in., 7.09× 3.94 in.

In the Pangcah myth of the fotong (spinning top), the function of the top is to reclaim land for agriculture, produce millet and glutinous rice, and create wild boars. This piece expands upon the top’s metaphors: creativity, seeds, and the instillation of vitality. So, I made tops for Makotaay out of clay from the coastal mountains with inspiration from the forms of shells and reef potholes. I placed them all around the Art Village as a symbol of how creativity never ceases there.

Photo by Chong Li-Kuan