The sculpture, with its descending, funnel-like form, was meticulously crafted from polyurethane, a material chosen for its industrial and malleable properties.
This form symbolized the relentless compression, homogenization and conformity imposed on individuals by modern societal structures. It suggests a descent into a void where individuality is gradually stripped away, leaving behind only a standardized product of systemic exploitation.
The artwork evokes a visceral sense of unease, as it mirrors the transformation of human beings who, entering as unique and multifaceted individuals, are subjected to the invisible machinery of power, emerging on the other side as indistinguishable units, molded to serve the demands of a biopolitical system. The delicate interplay between the raw textures of the material and the fleshy hues of pinks and reds further amplifies the tension between organic life and mechanized regulation, emphasizing the loss of autonomy and the erasure of personal identity.
This work draws deeply from Michel Foucault’s concept of biopolitics, which examines how modern power extends its reach into the most intimate aspects of human existence—life itself—subjecting it to mechanisms of surveillance, normalization, and regulation. By highlighting the body as a site of control, Anthro-Exit invites the viewer to reflect on the ways in which contemporary institutions—whether political, economic, or technological—exert influence over individuals, transforming them into docile bodies, compliant to the needs of power.
Yet, within this bleak portrayal, Anthro-Exit also poses a critical and urgent question: Is resistance still possible within such systems? Can individuals reclaim their agency or are they forever trapped in the descent toward uniformity and subjugation? The open cavity at the heart of the sculpture hints at the possibility of an echo, a cry or a lingering trace of human will, suggesting that even within the most oppressive frameworks, the potential for self-determination and defiance may still endure.
In its haunting beauty and profound message, Anthro-Exit stands as a powerful meditation on the fragile balance between control and freedom, urging viewers to confront the realities of their own complicity and to consider the ways in which they might resist the forces that seek to define and constrain them.
Materials:
Mixed media on paper, 65×100 cm.
Created in 2017