Muscle of Terror

Artist Statement

The Muscle of Terror is a sculptural necklace created in collaboration with Arthus Bertrand Jewelers, Grospiron Lapidaire, and Marc Gassier, a sculptor known for his craftsmanship in ceremonial swords for the Académie Française. Nominated by the Sommet du Luxe et de la Création in the Audacity category, this artwork stands out not just as an luxurious ornament but as a profound commentary on societal norms.

Terror can be manipulated to achieve social control and influence individual desires.

The centerpiece of the necklace is a hand-sculpted ivory cameo, inspired by Duchenne de Boulogne’s 1862 work, The Mechanism of Human Facial Expressions. Duchenne’s innovative use of electric shocks to stimulate facial muscles established a connection between facial expressions and the human soul, influencing Darwin’s later research on emotion. 

The necklace goes beyond mere decoration, symbolically “amputating” the facial lines associated with conspicuous consumption—a behavior driven by social comparison and envy, the most unfortunate emotion expressed by the human soul. A critique at the intersection of luxury, and societal expectations that builds a bridge between France's Reign of Terror, modern anxieties linked to the War on Terror, and a certain psychological "anxiety" behind aspirational consumption.