In Russia, several types of rubber baton used by law enforcement bear the name Argument, with numbered models differing in form and length. The installation consists of three replicas of these batons made of glass.

In ordinary language, an argument is a reason advanced in a discussion or dispute. The name of the baton suggests that, for those who wield it, physical force can function as a form of persuasion. By translating the batons into glass, the work strips them of their practical function and turns them into fragile objects.

The sculptures evoke the fragile and unstable relationship between citizens and the state. They also draw attention to the role of language in legitimizing power and governing a population.

Arguments, 2021
65, 60, and 50 cm
Three glass sculptures
Photos: Fred Dott (1); Mattia Quaglia (2)