Armor E

ArmorE
2004
Hard-shell protection parts originating from various sport uniforms, sandblasted light tables, neon light pipes, stainless steel punctured walls

Burial sites are extremely satisfying for archeologists, as they provide a
“Closed context” site (the objects all relate to one specific moment in time), full cultural, religious, and scientific evidence. The Archeologist Howard Carter must have been one happy fellow as he in November 1922 discovered the tomb of the Egypt pharaoh Tutankhamun. Along wooden shrines and an amazing array of statues, furniture and jewelry the grave contained board games and playing balls. We may assume that the Archaeologist, opening a grave that has been sealed more than 3000 yeas ago and finding a ball, must felt in that moment an emotional mental connection to this ancient fellow human being. . It also has to be mentioned at this point that first of all Mr. Carter came to Egypt to work as a artist and illustrator that was copying inscriptions and paintings.
King or pawn, the ball and the player have always been the heart of the drama.
Presented on light tables the installation Armor E could be a bizarre find of an archaeological digging site
The works consists out of hard-shell protection parts taken from various sport uniforms. Especially sports like ice hockey or American football with hard physical contact developed unique uniforms that transform the game into a fantastic visual event.
The pieces were puzzled together- rearranged to form a male and female body.
Are they the ancient King and Queen of Sport rituals?

Collection

Collection
2004
Hard-shell protection parts originating from various sport uniforms, visual sorted

Collecting is considered to be very personal and in the process of selecting we also reveal a lot of our self. Rules or method are usually formulated during active search, some type of limitation is a natural part of an individual's selection process. Most artist are also collectors and it is not only about the possession of certain items but its always hints towards a work in progress. I have several such collecting projects; usually it takes me years before some actual work originates out of these. It is also acquired knowledge in this activity that I find valuable, one gets to know the whole lifecycle starting from the producers, facilitators, users and the final steps of disposing or recycling methods. I work a lot with items originating from the field of sports and have often hinted towards finding sponsors in the industry that could shortcut the collecting process but somehow I like the feel of an authentic find. I dig the authenticity of a well worn out soccer ball or a merciless battered protector plate having survived years of heavy impact by collision of players or other objects.
So this work consists of authentic wear gutted out of helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, mouth guard, protective gloves, heavily padded shorts, a 'jock' athletic protector, shin pads, chest protector, neck guards, face masks and specialized equipment designed to protect the player in action.