LJ Ellam
Art
The Body is the Medium: Characters
These large entities that inhabit the space each represent anxiety surrounding my own body. I exist in my own internal gaze, from inside my brain, and I am unaware of my bodily representation to the outer world. To think of my body existing makes me uncomfortable and confused.
Influences for these bodily representations are the womb or digestive organs. Sometimes I feel like I am being eaten alive, from either my stomach and intestines or my vagina dentata or cavernous womb.
I believe each character depicted is a depiction of some parts of myself. What is curious is how each can be perceived as a protector or comfort role. Perhaps that is my self-projection onto these entities, but they aren't as frightening as first impressions.
'Steven' the soft sculpture was created from clothes, stuffing and rocks to give him weight. In the original idea, he would've been swinging from the ceiling. However, I began to enjoy his company and altered these plans for his death. He now sits in the installed space as a protector, perhaps an articulation of childhood soft toys. He feels comfortable to be around and for him to protect each person in the void space.