Alembic (They/Them)

Inspired by early apothecaries, herbal medicine, and mysticalities of alchemy, this genderqueer ceramic condenser presents itself as a vessel of transformation.

The serene figurine references ancient tools of healing and distilling, but also shows itself to be akin an effigy or shrine-bust for some queer herbal deity protecting the vegetable garden.

Seemingly functional (but not needing to be at all), Alembic (They/Them) subverts ideas of what something’s ought to be or do and symbolizes the self-sourced nature(s) of queer survival and becoming.

Alembic (They/Them) honors the witches, the queers, the herbalists, outcast-potion makers and community garden tenders. In communion with marigold and mustard, calendula and chard, she says: to be queer is to be alchemical: ever-shifting, ever-dripping, in the lively garden.

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• ^{The work was presented for a special autumn harvest gathering at Four Siblings Garden, Amsterdam, alongside works by Müge Yilmaz, Toni Kritzer, Mayomi Basnayaka, Clara Aramburo, Finn Wagner, and Zakia Al Abodi, in 2025.}

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