TUMESCENCE series, 2015-present
TUMESCENCE is a body of work referring to the human physiological reactions to sexual stimulation.
The word tumescence - or the quality of being swollen in readiness for sexual activity - is the same in French and English. It has spawned an interest in the use of traditional upholstery techniques to transcend the utilitarian status of everyday objects into sexual entities ( Tumescence I, II, III) inspired by the Readymade and the Dadaism art movement. This word particularly corresponds to my practice, sexual connotations and technique used.
The deep buttoning practice in upholstery provides embellishment and comfort. This technique dating from the reign of Napoleon III in the 19th century was reserved for the wealthier classes before serving as decorative items in royal palaces, business offices, luxury hotels and gentlemen's clubs.
With its noble aesthetic, this traditional technique I apply to pornographic imagery and on a non-traditional material such as latex creates a create a sense of tension and erotic sensuality but also a social and historical clash.
This body of work stemmed from research on cultural and psychological complexities of sexuality. Originally as personal research to overcome my sex addiction, readings of Georges Bataille’s erotism, Michel Foucault's philosophy of sexuality and Marquis de Sade books - especially Philosophie dans le boudoir, 120 jours de Sodome and Sade's scandalous erotic illustrations - inspired me to produce a body of work referring to sexual stimulation and in which its creative process would also work as a therapy to me. I took on a six month apprenticeship in a London upholstery studio to learn traditional deep buttoning technique.
From ‘Tumescence IV’ onwards the explicit works on sex stimulation are a contemporary interpretation of Sade’s writings. Each digitally printed photo showcases an orifice or act of penetration related to the button hole penetrating the materials. The stretched and buttoned materials over foam further evoke swollen erectile tissues. It composes an interesting pictorial effect as it restructures the image printed on fabric giving it a life-like human flesh effect and patchwork of human skin look.
Considering that Sade participated in most of his written lavish debauchery, and as a therapy on my sex addiction, each piece represents a specific moment of my sex life, a porn image or photograph of myself having sexual intercourses.
Technical dexterity and a fascination with the reaction of the viewer - themes of repulsion, attraction, the desire to touch a forbidden object in a gallery - are central my this work.