States of Matter explores the transition from one state of being to another through a performative gesture of cutting. The work unfolds through a tensioned installation of linen thread stretched across space, activated through a live act in which the threads are cut one by one. In each iteration, the work exists across distinct phases: the installed form under tension, holding potential energy; the act of cutting, in which that energy is released; and the aftermath, where the structure collapses into a loose and altered state. As each thread is cut, it emits a sharp, resonant ping, making the release of tension audible as well as visible. Through this process, the work moves between states—held, activated and undone—tracing a transformation shaped by the body in time.

In this 2023 iteration, States of Matter was reconfigured from its earlier one-person performances into a two-person work. The installation was doubled into a mirrored structure, activated simultaneously by two performers cutting in unison. The work expanded from a single body to a shared action, introducing a relational dimension to the process of transformation. The act of installing the first phase of the work also became part of the performance, unfolding over several days. This extended the structure to include an earlier phase of formation, preceding the moment of tension and release, and further emphasising the work’s movement across states.