La morale élastique

Kati Peltola’s glass world La Morale élastique (Engl. Elastic Moral) is a collection of works that explore the elasticity of morality; like ever-flexible human body, morality can adapt and change. Through this exhibition, Peltola aims to cultivate care, respect, and fairness by inviting visitors to explore beyond the binary concepts of good and bad. The works in the exhibition are part of an ongoing project that began in 2021.

Kati Peltola’s glass world La Morale élastique (Engl. Elastic Moral) is a collection of works that explore the elasticity of morality; like ever-flexible human body, morality can adapt and change. Through this exhibition, Peltola aims to cultivate care, respect, and fairness by inviting visitors to explore beyond the binary concepts of good and bad. The works in the exhibition are part of an ongoing project that began in 2021.

Moral behaviour is human capacity to anticipate the consequences, make value judgments and choose between alternative courses of action ¹. Moral codes are outcome of cultural evolution – knowledge and judgement of good and bad help to adapt socially ² . The Moral Guardian hangs in the middle of the room – a bent spine keeping an eye on all the things that are about it or the lack of it. Beyond simplistic black and white moralising, one should not lack critical sense and blindly accept all the doctrines in consideration of morality but analyse the different expressions of the same basic impulses, as Nietzsche states ³ – the spine is bent by its elasticity as should be our moral understanding. Further, in one of the pieces with plaster casted lips blowing a glassy pink bubble gum, Peltola quotes French screenwriter Michel Audiard: Bienheureux les fêlés, car ils laisseront passer la lumière (Engl. Blessed are the cracked, for they let the light shine through).

Kati Peltola (b. 1989) is a glass artist who graduated with a master’s degree in art from Aalto University in 2020. She works with flameworking technique in her studio in Vallila, Helsinki.

The unreliability of glass as material affects what I do in relation with my work. Reliability as a moral code would make glass a bad companion as it can pop on you even days after if not cooled down properly. Although I like the tension that is always present in the glass — it is durable but delicate, soft when melted and hard while cooling down. In morality and its considerations, one should remember the grey zones and mundane aspects while gazing through the glass windows and drinking from the glass cups. – Kati Peltola

1. In the Light of Evolution: Volume IV: The Human Condition. National Academy of Sciences, Avise JC, Ayala FJ, editors. Washington: National Academies Press, 2010.
2. Colin Prince. Moral Foundation Theory and Law. Seattle University, 2010.
3. Friedrich Nietzsche. Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future. Penguin Classics. 1886.