John Stringer Prize 10 Year Retrospective/John Curtin Gallery

Part 1 Titel:” My twin that I absorbed”

A sculpture dedicated to my true twin, with whom I shared 27 years of my life until it was removed from my body as a small growth of hair and teeth.
Year: 2024
Technique: Kinetic Artwork
Material: Hand-formed steel teeth, sewing machine, wood, rubber, electric motor

Part 2 Title: “The cosmic joke”
Year: 2024
Technique: Kinetic Artwork
Material: Found objects, plumbing parts, plastic, copper, steel, brass, rubber

Artist Statement:

Inspired by Erich Fromm’s exploration of human nature in The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness, Bjoern Rainer-Adamson’s kinetic sculptures examine our complex relationship with technology as a means of compensating for increasing loneliness, confusion about our purpose, and disconnection from nature. Fromm’s ideas on alienation and the loss of control inherent in modern life resonate with how we often turn to machines to fill emotional voids and seek refuge in something familiar. In a world where genuine human connection becomes more elusive, technology offers both a sanctuary and a reflection, mirroring our attempts to escape chaos and regain control while paradoxically amplifying our isolation and disorientation.

His work delves into the surreal notion of machines seemingly possessing human emotions, acting as proxies for our inner experiences. The first piece, a sewing machine with a grinding jaw, vividly captures the relentless anxiety associated with the quest to feel understood and to belong. Traditionally a tool of creation, this sewing machine becomes a symbol of emotional turmoil. The grinding jaw represents the consuming doubt and self-imposed pressure that arise in the pursuit of connection and the obsession with finding a soulmate or twin flame.

The second piece features a machine that alternates between gentle snores of sleep and bursts of laughter. This laughter is not merely a display of joy but a poignant commentary on the absurdity and irony of human existence. As the machine awakens with a chuckle, it mocks the futile endeavours and contradictions inherent in our lives, offering a mechanical reflection on the cosmic joke we find ourselves in. The machine’s return to rest symbolises the inevitable resignation to life’s cyclical nature, where moments of clarity and absurdity are fleeting.

Through his artwork, he explores the idea that machines can embody our emotions, taking on the roles of our inner dialogues and existential reflections. The juxtaposition of grinding anxiety and mocking laughter highlights the duality of human experience—the tension between our earnest pursuits and the absurdity of it all. The sculptures invite viewers to confront the unsettling possibility that even in our most earnest emotional quests, we may be mere players in an elaborate joke, with machines serving as both mirrors and participants in this existential theatre.

Gallery Images: Sharon Baker