About the Exhibit - Nine Lives

Cajsa von Zeipel’s exhibit, Nine Lives, consists of nine, insanely intricate silicon sculptures, on view at Company Gallery until October 17th, 2020. 

When entering the exhibit, it’s immediately clear that there are a LOT of things going on whether it’s the sex-esq shop in the entrance or the playful animal sculpture. 

“I have always sculpted from a narrative. To create some sort of mindset for the sculptures is what I love to do.” - Cajsa von Zeipel (source) 

Each sculpture has a unique personality, depicting its own ‘scene’ that’s independent from anything else going on in the show, so it's not surprising the title of the show was inspired by a sci-fi novel about clones.

“The title for Nine Lives comes from the eponymous Ursula K. Le Guin story, which explores ideas of cloning in order to challenge notions of self” (source) 

This reference to Ursula's book is appropriate since the sculptures are cast from humans - creating a ‘clone’ if you will. 

One theme that is present throughout the exhibit and is represented in the presence of fast fashion and luxury goods such as bootleg Louis Vuitton swag, is capitialism and how it creates our sense of self. 

Each sculpture is created from a variety of materials, the most unique being silicon, which creates an aerie translucent almost alien skin-like look. 

“I love it, especially the references that silicone carries: the playfulness of sex toys, its use in silicone breasts, and other medical equipment. It’s also a material that makes space for other materials – finally I can dig into my collection of fabric, glitter and Canal Street junk. Its soft, it can move, it has a long life, like an avatar, I’m a big fan.” - Cajsa von Zeipel (source) 

In order to make her sculptures less realistic, Cajsa re-assembles her sculptures into unrealistic positions in order to introduce fantasy and visual discomfort in the viewer. 

“Sawing off limbs and reconnecting disparate pieces, von Zeipel destroys their normative bodies; rather than statically holding clothes, these reconfigured forms take on uncanny movements.”  (source) 

About the Artist - Cajsa von Zeipel

Cajsa von Zeipel is a Swedish sculptor who lives and works in New York.

She’s best known for her “towering, white sculptures of lean, powerful young women, androgynous creatures in dynamic postures” (source) 

“I always work in this thin space between desire, seduction and the societal understanding of the grotesque – like someone vomiting or someone hating, or sex play.” - Cajsa von Zeipel (source) 

You can explore more on her website and Instagram.