We, the people 2020/2021
Installation of 27 modular plaster sculptures. 32 x 23 x 17 cm approx. each figure.
Installation of 27 modular plaster sculptures. 32 x 23 x 17 cm approx. each figure.
Together with Disagreeable Creatures, I developed We the people, as an attempt to address and represent my emotional experience of the Black Lives Matter protests, that took place during 2020. When these events happened, I was living in the city centre of Chicago and I was able to closely observe them. Some of these demonstrations happened simultaneously to the series of lockdowns that Chicagoans had to endure during the first half of 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Alongside the BLM protests, many other took place. Although with smaller numbers of attendees, these demonstrations would, most of the time, take place following a similar format. Because of this, it started to become easy to mistake one protest for another.
Within a crowd that is clamouring, individuals seem to loose a part of their identity, becoming a part of the clamouring mass.
These observations led me to explore ideas related to democracy, egalitarianism, interchangeability and modularity. All these concepts often seem to merge and blur in western societies, increasingly driven by their capitalistic backgrounds.
Within a crowd that is clamouring, individuals seem to loose a part of their identity, becoming a part of the clamouring mass.
These observations led me to explore ideas related to democracy, egalitarianism, interchangeability and modularity. All these concepts often seem to merge and blur in western societies, increasingly driven by their capitalistic backgrounds.
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For We, the people, I created a series of anthropomorphic sculptures. They are made of modular casts of consumer goods; freezer bags for bodies and plastic bottles for heads. Due to their modularity, the bodies of these beings can be combined to form different individuals, whose distinct identities, obvious as stand alone pieces, become blurred when gathered in a group.
The modular quality of the pieces, allows for multiple configurations. This encourages a playful interaction between the works and the artist, the curators and the people who install the pieces to be exhibited.
The modular quality of the pieces, allows for multiple configurations. This encourages a playful interaction between the works and the artist, the curators and the people who install the pieces to be exhibited.
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There are 27 complete sculptures, which not only allow for different bodily configurations, but can also be installed in a variety of arrangements, becoming adaptable to the spatial necessities of each show. They can be displayed on the floor, on elevated surfaces like desks, shelves or plinths and they can also be grouped in diverse ways or can be displayed scattered around the space.
