The Art of Kettle: A Small Moment in the Museum of Randomness

 Museum of Randomness

The Museum of Randomness is simply a place where I share small glimpses of the paper artworks I’m creating for my growing gallery, Art in Cupboard. These pieces sit quietly on shelve in sketchbook, and every so often one of them asks to be written about. This space is where those little stories land — a place to wander through miniature scenes whenever you feel like pausing for a moment.

Art in Cupboard is my collection of paper‑based artwork. It’s a gallery you can visit when you don’t have time for a real one, or when the nearest exhibition feels too far away. Here, you’ll find small works made from simple materials: ballpoint pens, ink, scraps of old newspapers and magazines, and whatever else happens to be within reach.

The Art of Kettle

One of the pieces in this collection is called The Art of Kettle. It’s a tiny collage built from everyday materials, but it carries a quiet story.

 

 

At the centre is a kettle drawn with a ballpoint pen — an ordinary object turned into a small symbol of comfort. Rising from it is the steam, but not the kind you’d expect. The fog is made from cut‑up pieces of old barcodes, reshaped into soft drifting forms. These once‑functional scraps now float like delicate vapour, giving the artwork a sense of movement and warmth.

Under the kettle sits a small cut‑out sign with the word ART in bold red letters. It’s a tiny reminder that creativity doesn’t need a grand stage.

This piece asks for a slow look. What do you notice first — the kettle, the barcode steam, or the red word ART. Does the transformation of something as mundane as a barcode make you think differently about the objects around you. Can you imagine the warmth of the kettle, the soft hiss of boiling water, the pause before the first sip.

Sometimes the smallest artwork invites the longest moment of reflection.

Tea, Rituals, and the Kitchen

Tea time has always been a moment of quiet ritual for me. There’s something soothing about filling the kettle, listening to the water bubble and hiss, and finally pouring it over the tea leaves. The sound alone feels like a tiny meditation.

My kitchen — where this ritual unfolds — is also the heart of my creative work. It’s where I sketch, cut, glue, experiment, and pause for a warm cup between tasks. It’s a place where making art and finding rest blend together naturally.

If you’d like a glimpse of how this space shapes my making, you can read my earlier post here Behind the Scenes.

Sometimes the smallest artwork asks the biggest questions, simply by giving us a reason to stop and look a little longer. Sometimes creativity begins in the simplest places.

 

 

 

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