This crustacean-like sculpture embraces with a hard nickel-plated steel shell a fragile mercury glass ball in its middle. The mesmerising eye-looking sphere, references the ancient artistry of mercury glass, with its roots attributed to diverse cultures, including France and China, putting into play a transcultural element of craft and technique. The studs are a reference to the imaginary that Mao is inspired by, that of the body modification movement of the 80’s and an idea of alternativeness where the artist’s queer identity found expression while growing up. These elements also enact an imagined sensory interaction with the work which evokes different textures and tactile experiences, consistently engaging the human body.
This crustacean-like sculpture embraces with a hard nickel-plated steel shell a fragile mercury glass ball in its middle. The mesmerising eye-looking sphere, references the ancient artistry of mercury glass, with its roots attributed to diverse cultures, including France and China, putting into play a transcultural element of craft and technique. The studs are a reference to the imaginary that Mao is inspired by, that of the body modification movement of the 80’s and an idea of alternativeness where the artist’s queer identity found expression while growing up. These elements also enact an imagined sensory interaction with the work which evokes different textures and tactile experiences, consistently engaging the human body.