“Honestly, I think you look great” is an immersive installation about how the digital aesthetics of the new beauty movement of TikTok, Instagram & Co. are shaping the body image of our digital future.
Exploring the Intersection of Digital Aesthetics and Modern Beauty
Why do we allow ourselves to be so easily manipulated by the superficiality of the modern beauty industry? How does body image change through editing programs, facial filters, and algorithms? Where almost sacred arrangements of beauty products are found behind the mirrored doors of our bathroom cabinets, multi-step skincare routines have become the prayers of modern society. These routines are quasi-accomplices in the fight against the process of decay, and perhaps that’s why we attribute a certain magic to them.
From this concept, a cohesive spatial collage emerges, formed from both digital and analog beauty tools. It embodies not only an aesthetic vision but also a critical reflection on the social and cultural constructions of beauty, identity, and the human body.
Considering the booming market in fitness and wellness, and the fascination with the aesthetics of Pilates reformers, the framework for the abstract sculpture “Mermaid” takes shape. The two digital collages explore these themes, with the video work incorporated into a ready-made ring-light sculpture that refers to the sculptural aspects of modifying our faces — here, in a digital context.
