Ryan Gander Risk is the thing that stops you doing the things you want to do (Big Feelings), 2026

A fibreglass sculpture resembling a helium balloon in the shape of triangular weight inscribed with the word "1 TON" hangs out of reach from the gallery ceiling. Modelled on classic cartoons such as Road Runner, it reproduces the details of a balloon. Seemingly floating above the spectator, it is both playful and slightly unsettling in its suggestion of danger.

The work demonstrates the artist’s use of humour and everyday objects to engage viewers and heighten their awareness of their surroundings. The title, Risk is the thing that stops you doing the things you want to do, refers to the contrast between an unthreatening evocation of cartoon characters and the suggested threat of a large object hovering overhead.