Erik Kessels protests in opposition to cosmetic surgery with a pout papered skate park
"Plastic surgery has become pretty normal in today's society," Kessels wrote in an email to CR. "However, if these operations are taken overboard, they can deform and turn humanity into monsters."
In response, Kessels created Destroy My Face – a normal skate ramp that was wallpapered with images of improved and modified faces. Guests are invited to skate the ramp, gradually contorting and destroying faces over time.
According to the artist, co-founder of the creative agency KesselsKramer, this is a commentary on our current “photographic renaissance”, in which more pictures are being made than ever before. “We consume images like fast food. They shovel en masse with ruthless devotion, ”explains Kessels.
“Like the food we consume, it looks perfect, but often doesn't contain any real substance. The same goes for the way we present our image of ourselves online. Being insta-perfect has become the norm, not the norm Exception. "
It is certainly easy to see Kessel's point of view. The ease of use of filters – and the improved accessibility of plastic surgery – has undoubtedly led many of us to become more obsessed with their looks than ever.
However, the installation misses a trick in that it does not include images of men affected by the same worries. The artwork is certainly a playful commentary on society's obsession with self-image and plastic surgery, but its focus only on women and their "obliteration" creates a disturbing undertone about how we deal with such compulsions and the harm they can do – which is likely to be will spark debate.
TO UPDATE: After receiving an open letter from artists and organizations questioning the apparent violence of Destroy My Face, Kessels and BredaPhoto made statements.
"The intent of this work is ironic, and is to create a dialogue about self-acceptance," writes Kessels, who has also made it clear that the images were generated by machine learning, using both male and female plastic surgery portraits. "Of course it doesn't mean promoting violence against women. With this work I never meant to offend anyone, but when I read the last few comments online I understand that I did and I apologize for it. In my opinion, the function of Art in society in starting dialogues, and I continue to believe in it. "
Destroy My Face is at Breda Skatepark Pier15 until October 25th. bredaphoto.nl