1 in 5
Plaster casts, plaster bandages, acrylic paint. 2023.
1 in 5 is a visceral exploration of power, vulnerability, and the tension embedded in human interaction, conveyed through a series of raw, expressive gestures. These gestures reflect the body’s capacity to hold emotion and conflict, expressing not only physical presence but the psychological and emotional weight carried within it.
The piece presents two sets of hands and forearms: one appears light, hollow, and ghostly, due to the use of plaster bandages. The other set of hands is cast in solid plaster, feeling heavy and physically dominant. One set is pinned against the wall by the other. The gesture captured is neither clearly safe nor explicitly violent. Instead, it invites pause, asking the viewer to interpret what is unfolding, and to consider what their own assumptions reveal.
The title, 1 in 5, offers the only direct clue, grounding the work in a broader, statistical reality while leaving the narrative open-ended. Some viewers recognize the implications immediately; others bring entirely different readings. That difference is intentional. It is in the space between recognition and ambiguity that the work operates, highlighting how deeply personal experiences can be rendered visible or invisible, depending on who is looking.
Through this work, I aim not to dictate meaning, but to create space for reflection on power, presence, and the complexity of embodied experience. The sculpture becomes both an object and a question, inviting viewers to linger in discomfort, curiosity, and empathy.
