Insono

Nylon object, fan, 2003
Serie of 8 acquarels, 2007

Leibesübungen. Vom Tun und Lassen in der Kunst,Galerie der Hochschule für Bildende Künste (HBK),
Braunschweig, Germany, 2008

This work addresses the sense of loss that is often experienced in relation to the memory of childhood.

For an adult, toys and play trigger strong associations with childhood, of a time when imagination was not only acceptable but also actively encouraged. By the same token, childhood play serves as a kind of tactile socialization where children are taught acceptable behaviors, models and roles via interaction with real friends or imaginary ones.

The work invites the physical interaction of the viewer with the piece, a giant black nylon Teddy bear that is repeatedly inflated every 2 minutes, using a small fan, and is then permitted to slowly deflate.
The relationship between this action and the potentiality for play deals with an inherent nostalgia in the memory of adults.