Marlene de Beer

Marlene de Beer’s Thicker than Water (2017) uses natural forms to explore the complexity of human relationships. Crafted from porcelain and red beads, the necklace features sharp thorn-like branches linked by dense clusters of tangled red threads. The porcelain thorns, modeled after South African thorn trees, symbolize both protection and danger, while the vivid red knots evoke blood ties, passion, and the emotional bonds that hold families together. The tension between these elements  reflects the layered dynamics of familial and marital relationships.

The formal qualities of the piece heighten its symbolic meaning. The smooth pale porcelain provides a rigid structure, while the bright red knots disrupt the flow, adding bursts of color and texture. This contrast between order and chaos speaks to the unpredictability and complexity within close relationships. Through Thicker than Water, de Beer transforms botanical forms into a meditation on love, conflict, and the emotional threads that bind people together, inviting viewers to consider the delicate balance between connection and vulnerability.