Sticky Entanglements at Transformer featured multi-media works by Beth Yashnyk and Fanni Somogyi, who explore glitch as a point of metamorphosis. Human and non-human bodies were dissected and fragmented, questioned and observed, and then reassembled in distinct ways into new hybrid forms that push the boundaries of gender and life itself. The narrative that developed between the sculptures, animations, and paintings offered paths to speculative ideas of relationships to one’s self and to others.
The notion of “sticky” did not only appear as a visual motif through body fluids, but also through the use of certain materials such as silicone. From a metaphorical perspective, sticky also implies gumminess. Sticky things almost always leave a residue. Our interactions with others affect and contaminate our identity and lived experience. As we relate to others (human and non-human) we can gain empathetic observation skills and new ways of experiencing the world. These ideas of glitch can inform our collaborations with other beings and technologies to create more liveable and equitable worlds.
Is a glitch really a mistake?
Utilizing imagery derived from 3D scans of my own body, I virtually and physically manipulated my physical form in ways that were unnatural and unnerving. These “glitches” are simulated and re-imagined in each artwork through color, pattern and repetition of subject. Each layer acts as a portal to the next glitch. The perpetual re-articulation of the subject celebrates the glitch as a necessary tool to break down the limitations of gender and sexuality.
The pandemic allowed the divide between the virtual and physical world to become even smaller. Socialization, interaction, and communication were no longer physical acts- they were flattened and fit within a screen. Our bodies were forced to interact with one another virtually. As a result, my relationship with my own body shifted and transformed as I navigated relationships through both the physical and virtual world.
Through the decontextualization of various parts of the body, I explored the ways in which the human body is perceived by separating individual parts from gender identity. These anatomical extensions act autonomously, engaging viewers to reevaluate their relationship with the body and their perception of gender. Though the physical images are forced to stand still, the virtual ones must exist in perpetual motion.
