Armour, 2017

Solo exhibition at Display, Berlin DE. 

Individual protections, once made of iron, were meant to defend their owner and improve human capacities. They would shape the body to act as a second layer, define one’s identity and belonging, and maybe, repulse the adversary. From head to toe, covered by her all-in-one, how would Joan of Arc feel wearing her “victorious” harness while marching on Paris?

The inhabitants of an armour chose whether they wanted it to be light and adherent or massive and constructing, either allowing a greater rapidity of movement but with less efficiency or defensive but rigid and heavy, constricting the range of action. In each case, the protection reveals its fragility.

Luttrell extends this investigation field to other forms of protection or self-defense. Her interest focuses exactly on the invisible armours, involved in a daily context. The ones we wear on facial features or disguised under gestures and behaviors.

Face lines converted into ceramic pieces strengthened by fire and shattering if mishandled. These fine bone structures are here engaged in a ritualized course, their brittles taken by fluids and movements, turning back into sediments, as the objects are activated by their dissolution.

—Text by curator, Marie DuPasquier

Activation: by Keegan Luttrell, Paul Polaris and Estafania Campillo.

Photos © Josh Wolf and CHROMA and courtesy of the artist. 


© Keegan Luttrell 2023