Muscular Growth (and me), 2023

Jivan van der Ende is intrigued by the way we view bodies and the social and political implications of clothing (or lack thereof). With the project 'Muscular Growth', she focuses on bodybuilding as shaping the body within the context of patriarchal and capitalist society. Since 2021, she has been working with bodybuilders to create a dialogue between them and her queer self, both practices and identities. The video work 'Muscular Growth (and me)' stems from this ongoing research. In 'Muscular Growth (and me)’ the artist combines images of bodybuilding trophies with her print work of competition lingerie, and introduces the athlete's body as a musical instrument. At the same time, French-speaking curator Sébastien Pluot recites a testimony on the psychological consequences of sexual abuse. Because the statement is written in Dutch, the curator stumbles and plays with the phonetic sounds of the heavy words. In the video work, the artist playfully and personally shapes questions about vulnerability, trauma, misunderstanding and the objectified body.

  

Credits:
Camera: Anaïs Chabeur
Bodypaint: Hamed Dehqan, Jivan van der Ende
Bodybuilder: Jurgen van Wesenmael
Voice over: Sebastien Pluot, Jivan van der Ende
Supported by Lichtekooi, HISK, Nederlandse Ambassade, BIFBB


Exhibited at the groupshow
De overwinning van de mens op de dingen. Over sport

With works by Aline Bouvy, Denicolai & Provoost, Harun Farocki, Meschac Gaba, Ingeborg Lüscher, Sandrine Morgante, Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi, Shervin/e Sheikh Rezaei, Amber Vanluffelen, Jivan van der Ende, Benjamin Verhoeven, Gert Verhoeven and Ken Verhoeven

13.05.2023 – 24.06.2023