Body Worlds: The Anatomical Venus (with Tiia Kasurinen)
2021
Photograph, a framed pigment print
100cm x 67,5cm
Turku City Art Collection (all pieces of work)
Kuopio Artmuseum Collection (2nd piece of work)
The series re-imagines the anatomical Venus, an 18th century wax figure, into a Bodyworlds exhibition in active positions.
The anatomical Venus wax figures were first made in Italy during the 18th century. These figures were used for teaching anatomy to the general public and were moulded into the form inspired by the portrayal of Venus in the visual arts. They were beautiful, passive and placed to lie on silk. Their beauty was meant to distract people from thinking about death while learning anatomy.
The series created together with dance artist Tiia Kasurinen imitates the positions of bodies assigned as female in the images of the history of art and medicine. As the female characters in the historical images were placed to lie as passive objects, male characters were allowed to represent strength and humanity.
In the series the anatomical Venus performed by Tiia Kasurinen holds her signature embellishments like silk, pearls and long hair, but is also allowed to represent human body and it's strength.
Tiia Kasurinen, who plays the anatomical Venus, is a Helsinki-based artist/choreographer. She is interested in themes such as identity, gender, the gaze and pop culture, and explores them in her works through theatre make-up, visual transformation and motion. In her works YouTube tutorials and somatic movement walk hand in hand, creating recognisable aesthetics.
tiiakasurinen.com