In a series of sculptures, I depict how dominant forces shape the body. I see the body as a machine, but one without order or function. It is the disorganized tangle of flesh, hair, skin, bones, intestines, and emotions that makes the machine human. The sculptures are modeled with the help of a massage gun. In this way, I replace the manual labor of the sculptor with a machine and question how our bodies relate to labor and discipline; the body is shaped by the work it does, but in this case, it is the sculptor’s job to shape a body.
The massage device also carries a promise: after pain comes relief. It is also a tool for discovering the body. Through muscle pain, we come into contact with the mechanics behind the body. By applying this method to my sculptures, I map the sensations of the body like a topographer.
In collaboration with artist and singer Marion Haguet, I created a composition that accompanies the sculptures. While Haguet sings, she is massaged by the device. In the same way that clay is shaped, her voice is also distorted.
@lukas.Vonk
Lukas.vonk.studio@gmail.com
