TERRY CULVER
MFA Works:
WORKOUT
My research into the contradictions inherent in serious forms of bodybuilding led to a series of sculptures that were presented in an installation - that is, an 'environment' where all the elements in this environment relate to one another to create an overall impression as opposed to an exhibition of individual sculptures on plinths relating to a common theme.
I chose a gallery that had an old gym feel to it as opposed to a traditional clinical white walled and floor space.
I created a false wall near the front of the gallery to create an area called 'The Changing Room' which contained objects one might find in a gym changing room: weighing scales, a locker and towel, etc.
Passing through this wall one enters 'The Workout Room' which contained a mixture of machines and mirrors dealing with the psychology of bodybuilding.
If you are interested in reading a more thorough analysis of this work there is a link to my MFA thesis below.
Terry Culver.
BREATH
morphing video
Based on old fashioned public scales - this work deals with gender and body size.
At the 'light' end of the scale the mens' statements are extremely derogatory whilst the women's are flattering. At the other end the reverse is given.
Polystyrene. Referencing the manufacturing of muscles by machine as opposed to physical labour.
Video morph - starting image. Over 12 seconds this image morphs into the third image in this series accompanied to the soundtrack of a weightlifter inhaling.
Middle point video image
End image. After this image there is a 2 second pause and the video reverses to the sound of a weightlifter exhaling. Then the video loops continuously.
The locker was designed to reference many small ideas in the one piece. The gym bag is full of disposable nappies, the six pack of beer highlights the contradictions of 'six pack' meaning well defined abs AND beer (which can create the opposite effect of a beer gut.)
The bra refers to gynocomastia ("Bitch-Tits"), there is a jar of condoms and walnuts, and a map of Austria. (Both references to Arnoold Schwarzenegger.)
The towel lists many real and fictional masculine stereotyped "heroes".
Humorous entry and exit doors from the "changing room" to the "workout room"
Stack of barbells each a visual or verbal pun. From top to bottom: Muscle Beach Toy (inflated barbell like a beach ball) Featherweight (acrylic barbell filled with duck feathers) Waits (two working clocks displaying weight instead of time weights:waits) Paperweight (thousands of different sized circles of paper threaded onto a rod) Overweight (two fibreglass bulging big-gutted weights.
Gym machine made from superlight materials such as polystyrene, nylon foam, plastic etc.
Bench seat with penis pump and concealed audio tape.
Bodybuilders nightmare - trying so hard to lift the bar it stretches the bar around the bodybuilder but still leaving the weights stuck on the floor. Fibreglass.
Perhaps what bodybuilders dream of: impossibly large barbels. Bench dressed as a bed.
These maps have depictions of very old weight lifting practises superimposed with modern machines.
These mats depict 19th century physio exercises and were prototypes of the modern gym machines.
Acrylic mirror with lightly etched words in the surface. These words comprised all manner of phrases and names used to belittle and bully boys (and men.) Words such as sissy, mummy's boy, poofta, fairy, weed, cry baby etc.
Small Featherweight dumbbell.
Verbal pun. Refers to the money involved in contemporary bodybuilding.
Psychoanalytic theory of how we perceive ourselves in mirrors.
Distorting mirror which 'thins' the viewer.
Mirror with several different body shapes and a movable arrow pointing with a 'you are here' sign.
A mirror with flexible and movable arms holding magnifying lenses to give the viewer immediate 'muscle growth'.