Npuinu (En-pu-i-nu) “Corpse” Npuinu “Corpse” is a replication of my own body that has been made from sugar and is, therefore, itself a “living” piece of work. This body is full and loaded with content, life and a story in itself. As Elizabeth Grosz states, “The body must be regarded as a series of social-political, cultural and geographical inscriptions, productions or constitution. The body is not opposed to culture, a resistant throwback to a natural past; it is itself a cultural, the cultural product.” The indigenous body, the savage, the wild: it has been romanticized, violated, and projected on since the colonization. To this day, the body is inscribed with baggage. Sugar is an essential and controversial substance within the exploration into trauma and sublimation within indigenous communities because it is directly linked to the framework of colonial/ post-colonial impact. It’s the most addictive substance in the world, making the capitalistic world go round, grasping one from the taste, chemical reactions and holding you with addiction. Sugar is a staple resource in the history of the slave trade and represents the loss of traditional lifestyles and spirituality, links to the direct commodification of the human body and taking over territory for resources. This idea of “consumption” is why I’ve chosen to use sugar as a material and make candy that can be eaten: a tasty sugar treat to be bought, sold or traded. Creating this physical artwork will aid in promoting a dialogue about these tense social topics in more engaging ways; the truth of the matter is, this is a state of emergency and to stop this cycle we need personal storytelling, language, dialogue and a greater understanding of one another. This is how new conversations of reconciliation can begin.
This work is about finding spirit, hope, dialogue and peace. It is about loving our own bodies and the ones we have lost. it is a call for action, contemplation and healing.
Skylar Dawn Borgstrom, Mold making.
Kit MacNeil, Mold making.
Mark Synder, the Installation process.
Josh Elston, the Installation process.
Emily Powrie, the Installation process.
lee Cannarozzo, the Installation process.
The body cast is not for sale, the Neon sign in one of a kind is and priced at $2500.00 USD
Sugar casting workshops
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