Die Kopie
2023
bitumen, mastic asphalt, steel, 925 silver, cubic zirconia
16x15x2 cm
Jewelry case made from cardboard, fabric paper, beton
18x17,5x4 cm
Artist Statement
The necklace was crafted from bitumen, an industrial material typically used to surface roads, pavements, and parking lots. Despite its raw and abrasive nature, the small black stones embedded within the bitumen evoked the shimmer of precious gems. During the 2023 Rundgang, I chose to present the piece simply by wearing it while overseeing the exhibition space. Over time, the warmth of my body softened and reshaped the necklace, causing it to gradually adhere to my skin. The material emitted a pungent odor, and my skin became irritated and itchy.
By translating a utilitarian, infrastructural substance into the language of adornment, the work interrogates the boundaries between the industrial and the intimate. It reflects on the toxic materialities that weave through everyday life and questions how they shape our sensory, bodily, and psychological existence. The piece suggests that the city is not only around us but also within us—an invisible imprint which is carried under the skin.
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