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 reimagines the anatomical Venus, an 18th-century wax figure, as a Body Worlds exhibition featuring active poses.
Anatomical Venus wax figures were first made in Italy during the 18th century. These figures were used to teach anatomy to the general public and were moulded in forms inspired by portrayals of Venus in the visual arts. They were beautiful, passive figures, placed lying on silk. Their beauty was intended to distract people from thoughts of death while learning anatomy.
The series, created together with dance artist Tiia Kasurinen, imitates the poses of bodies assigned as female in images from the history of art and medicine. While female characters in historical images were placed lying down as passive objects, male characters were allowed to represent strength and humanity.
In the series, the anatomical Venus, performed by Tiia Kasurinen, retains her signature embellishments, such as silk, pearls, and long hair, but is also allowed to represent the human body and its 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