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AUTOTOMY

Hydra Island 2016

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AUTOTOMY is a subaquatic sculptural project made in collaboration with Hydra Dive Center in Greece. The work could be experienced in Vlychos Beach on Hydra Island during the summer 2016. Autotomy (from the Greek auto”self” and tome “severing”) is defined as the reflex separation of a part from the body. This spontaneous division occurs with certain animals when facing an imminent threat. This automatic release, letting go a part of oneself to the attacker in order to flee, allows the animal greater chance of survival. Our disarticulated wood installation depicts a sunken village on stilts fragmenting itself. Seemingly organic, the village breaks away from it holding pillars in an attempt to change position, to migrate. This project explores the idea of a flexible habitat able to stretch, to bounce back into shape and shift its orientation easily as if gravity was no issue.

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