Kopin Katalin (szerk.): Test objektív. A test reprezentációja a kortárs művészetben - Ferenczy Múzeum kiadványai, C. sorozat: Katalógusok 5. (Szentendre, 2013)
Looking at ourselves as outsiders, examining and taking possession of the uncontrollable, invisible and untouchable body surface. The installation entitled Background by Zsuzsi Vinkler helps us experience and feel the objective image we create of our own body. The installation consisting of two parts illustrates the area in the middle of our back we cannot touch. The photos show this untouchable area whose size may vary according to the individual’s physical characteristics. In the interactive part of the installation, visitors get into focus, as they can experience the untoucable area of their back between an industrial camera and a TV screen. The artist, who is a trained psychologist, defines the tangible experience as follows: “It has been scientifically proven that seeing our own back provides a unique ’out of body’ experience in a sense. The visual stimulus is so powerful information for the brain that it can override other bodily feelings, and the spectacle is replaced by our body in our imagination. This special experience can occur during extreme physical exertion, sleep deprivation, sensory deprivation, meditation and hallucination.” In many respects, the visual and physical experience gained in this way can be paralleled to the experience of catharsis, the fundamental phenomenon caused by the influence of art and aesthetic reception. The magnetic table installation entitled Attraction exposes another taboo theme: the everchanging public opinion of human body hair according to historical periods. The existence of expectations, trends related to body hair is one of the most dominant pressurising forces under the necessity of meeting the ideal body image. Dense body hair on women used to be the symbol of femininity and fertility, whereas it used to symbolise masculinity and primitive force on men. Nowadays, however, it is regarded as a stigma that has to be removed from the body. The decision is up to the spectators: the artist gives free hand to them regarding the location and quantity of hair on the male upper body. In the installation, body hair is represented by iron-dust movable with magnetic bars.
