Alina Szapcoznikow, Lamp Double Mouth on Phallus (1967). Sculpture, design, coloured polyester, lightbulb and electrical wiring. 55 x 49 x 38 cm. © Alina Szapocznikow. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris. Courtesy of Richard Saltoun Gallery, London.
This gem of a sculpture shown at Frieze Art Fair 2020 with Richard Saltoun online.
Imprisoned for over ten months in concentration camps during the Second World War as a Polish Jew, Szapocnikow’s work functions as a record of both her memory as well as a commentary on the female form. Best known for her resin casts of body parts, her sculptures explore a black humour rooted in the fragility and sexualisation of the female body.
The death of Stalin in 1953 saw the Polish government loosening control over creative freedom and prompted Szapocznikow’s move to figurative abstraction.
Lamp Double Mouth on Phallus (1967) is part of her sculptures produced in the 1960s that employ bright polyester resins and the forms of lips and breasts. With light bulbs concealed within, these works take the form of functional desk lamps, adding to the artist’s commentary on consumer culture and modular reproduction.
Main image: Alina Szapcoznikow, Lamp Double Mouth on Phallus (1967). Sculpture, design, coloured polyester, lightbulb and electrical wiring. 55 x 49 x 38 cm. © Alina Szapocznikow. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris. Courtesy of Richard Saltoun Gallery, London.
A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.
Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.
Learn more about Ocula Magazine
Showcasing the best of the art world.
Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.
Learn more about Ocula Membership
Specialises in the sale of major artworks.
Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.
Learn more about our team and services