Art Analysis: “HOW MANY BUBBLES IN A BAR OF SOAP” by Kevin Cole

 Sculpted in 2022, HOW MANY BUBBLES IN A BAR OF SOAP? by Kevin Cole is part of a series of mixed media called The Ballot Box series. It is located at Hearne Fine Art in Little Rock in an exhibit dedicated to Kevin’s work named Where Do We Go From Here? II: Exploring Gerrymandering and Voting. It is painted with tar paper and carved with wood and metal. It uses a color palette of blue and white, in which the former takes up the most space while the latter is throughout the sculpture. The overall design of the sculpture is inspired by the old letterbox design of the 1800s.

The most notable aspect of HOW MANY BUBBLES IN A BAR OF SOAP? is the pattern of bubbles seen all around, which fits the name of the sculpture to great effect. A second aspect of this sculpture’s design is the hole in the front, which also works well within the context of its design. Another aspect is the hole of the sculpture, in which objects such as coins or papers are inserted, although since this is a sculpture, it’s not designed with that in mind. Kevin’s emphasis on patterns on HOW MANY BUBBLES IN A BAR OF SOAP? cleverly allows the viewer to ponder a series of questions and theories on a soap just from the bubble pattern alone.

Additionally, Kevin Cole's work, HOW MANY BUBBLES IN A BAR OF SOAP, resembles actual ballet boxes that collect voting papers. Instead of votes, the sculpture prompts viewers to imagine the number of bubbles in a bar of soap, sparking discussions and guesses among the audience. The sculpture's title and design also encourage viewers to contemplate the political world and the importance of voting. Kevin's ability to achieve this goal is truly impressive, and those who have experienced his work have been deeply impacted by it.

Kevin Cole's work, HOW MANY BUBBLES IN A BAR OF SOAP, is truly remarkable in how it prompts viewers to consider both the question at hand and the political world around us. The sculpture's clever design and accompanying title pose a question that urges us to act and make our voices heard through voting. Cole's ability to achieve this goal is truly impressive and has had a significant impact on those who have had the opportunity to experience his work.