Animus, 2023
Metal, PU-Schaum, Charcoal, Faux Fur, Lenses, Wood, 2 Goat Jaws, Ramhorn, Lacquer Paint, Faux Feathers, Water, Plaster, Glass, Tubes
Animus is a sculpture integrated with a structural frame, forming a single, cohesive entity. The figure sits within this structure, its posture downward, head submerged in water, evoking the sense of being immersed in one’s own sorrow. The water, pooling within the head, suggests a state of emotional stagnation—an introspective stillness where grief, frustration, and suppressed feelings accumulate.
As a dark, almost hermetic presence, the sculpture embodies the shadowed aspects of masculinity: restraint, repression, and the internalized weight of societal expectations. By appearing suspended in this watery solitude, the Animus conveys the psychological experience of being trapped in sadness, where reflection and emotion coexist with immobilization. Its body, integrated with the surrounding frame, reinforces a sense of containment, as though the figure is both physically and emotionally held within its own limitations.
Photographed by Tommy Smits
