Soft Mechanics is an emerging body of work that explores the joy and absurdity within queer material relational kinetics through performance, materiality and robotics. The work addresses the inherent queer nature of the robotic body building upon Steve Dixon’s concept of the “Metallic Camp”.
At the centre of the body of work is the work Lick, spit, chew and blow, can or can’t you swallow me whole? Untitled attempt #1, 2023, a video which documents two robotic limbs attempted automation. One robotic limb is constructed using chewed strawberry flavoured hubba bubba bubblegum. The second limb is constructed from frozen salvia. As the limbs attempt to automate or “wrestle”, the saliva melts and saliva enzymes begin the process of digestion.
The chewed gum and saliva have been either produced or processed for the work using the artists own body. This process of production and processing materials for the construction of the robotic arms has been documented resulting in a series of still and moving images.
Video and images of Lick, spit, chew and blow, can or can’t you swallow me whole? Untitled attempt #1 were exhibited in 2023 at Tributary Projects as part of the Australian Queer exhibition, Cruel Optimism, curated by Christian Sirois.