Many times we think of ourselves as a superior species with a great connection to the universe, but are we really better than other creatures? We are callous in the way we treat others, animals are just a source of food and their lives have been sucked into a production industry. At the end of the day, we’re all the same: a sack of bones and meat that happens to exist in this universe.
Now, if we think about it, there’s always a twinge of superiority regarding meat consumption. The “superior species” eat those below them, and this of course, applies to human beings. Remember the myth of Cronus? He ate his progeny out of fear of losing his power. There are tons of other stories regarding cannibalism as a means to show superiority. However, this is something that shocks us as a society, so the idea of meat –and what it represents– can be both attractive and revolting at the same time. If you don’t believe me, think about the controversy around Lady Gaga’s famous meat dress. Many were disgusted and shocked with the idea of her wearing an outfit fully made with meat, but what’s the difference between going to the butcher and asking for a nice cut than seeing a woman wearing it?
To deal with that inevitable tension between fascination and repulsion, artist Andrea Hasler creates very intriguing sculptures and installations that recreate the flesh and guts of human and other animals. Through this she wants to create a dialogue between the spectator and the artwork, which ultimately reflects our ephemeral and rotten nature. After all, we can be reduced to a lump of meat.
If we were to use only one word to describe or relate with her unsettling work, it would be the “abject,” but first let me explain. As she says, people often feel disgusted by the abject quality of her work, but at the same time can’t stop watching it. Moreover, the thin line dividing attraction and repulsion has been a part of humanity since its inception. Although we might reject them at a first glance, upon the second we can’t resist the impulse to touch them and look at them. But what are they trying to evoke?
Through her fleshy art, she also deals with the idea of self-exploration and a graphic quest to understand what’s underneath our skin and our own identity. It’s also a dissection of all the moral values and concepts we deal with in our everyday life. In other words, her art deals with all the contradictions we face on a daily basis, like the way we work our entire lives in things we don’t enjoy just to ensure we have things we love. That’s our perishable quality as human beings.
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If you want to know more about her controversial art, take a look at her Instagram profile @andreahasler
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Art always finds a way to take us out of our comfort zone to challenge us to interpret our reality. Take a look at these Sensual and Grotesque Paintings That Show Human’s Darkest Fantasies and The Man Who Had Sex With Different People As A Form Of Art.
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Source:
Andrea Hasler Official Website
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