Phrygian Cap (Wall Piece) - 2020
An image of an utlrasound that depicts a Phrygian cap – an anatomical name for the fold in the gall bladder – pasted onto the inner wall of the gallery.
The Phrygian cap of anatomy takes its name from the hat worn as a symbol of the French Revolution that has a (Smurf-like) fold in it. The hat takes its inspiration from the one given to slaves who had been given their liberty in Ancient Rome. It is therefore a visual reference that signifies emancipation. From slavery originally and later from monarchy. But could by association imply emancipation from any system that forms the coordinates of a closed system.
The image of the gallbladder is taken with an ultrasound. Meanwhile the wall piece is a stylized rendition of a stereoscopic image (the kind in which one uses glasses with differently tinted glass on each side). This is interesting because of how the mass inside a human body becomes two-dimensional as an ultrasound image. The stereoscopic effect therefore gives the (superficial) appearance of reconstituting that mass (of the human body).
The exhibition is supported by Myndlistarsjóður.