Dead Mannequin

Pervasive advertisements in our daily lives make me reluctant to be a passive viewer. This reactive perspective places me in a critical position regarding them, as I view advertisements as a constant gaze—a means of dictating norms and standards that goes hand in hand with the idea of surveillance and control. Dead Mannequin, 2024 is a piece inspired by a daily life encounter with an under-construction boutique on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The source material was a photograph on my phone, capturing a mannequin covered in transparent plastic sheets and duct tape. I found the temporary un-usability of the mannequin in a pricey brand store particularly interesting. The non-functionality of it, which is rarely seen in public spaces, was my entry point. In my studio, I aimed to preserve this moment of difference and present it in an accessible, permanent yet changeable form. I used a wooden box frame, attaching the printed photo to it and duct-taping it in a manner similar in both material and color to the original display in the store window. The viewer is invited to get close to the work, touching the tape or cover to reveal another layer of packing within the work.

2024