Susan MacPhail

03 Theseus's Teeth

A sculptural exploration of the Ship of Theseus paradox, using the replacement of teeth to represent the profound physical and identity shift from child to adult.

“"Theseus’s Teeth" is intended to highlight the intellectual delight of ‘the Ship of Theseus paradox’ as a metaphor for the transformation of a child into an adult. Just as a child’s physical changes signal the loss of innocence and the start of a new phase, the sculpture captures this ongoing process of transformation. The materials and forms in the piece evoke the tension between change and continuity, prompting us to consider how we remain the same, even as we evolve. ”