Face Armbinder, 2023

Latex, PVC Fabric, Orange Thread, Cam Recorder

The performance Face Armbinder aims to show how sculptural costumes can become practical objects and explore their symbolic meaning of the human ability to push the boundaries. In the performance, the Armbinder acts as a physical restraint that affects respiratory functions. It causes oxygen to condense on the latex material turning it into the water droplets.

This forces the performer to grasp the air. This multifaceted utilization of the sculptural objects showcases their adaptability and highlights their immersive and transformative potential beyond traditional sculpture. It represents not only physical constraints but also the limitations of human fantasies and desires, questioning cultural aspects of fashion, fetishism, and the use of unconventional forms of clothing.

- The performer is forced to grasp for air,” Zarówny notes, “and that effort becomes visible.” The object functions simultaneously as clothing, sculpture, and instrument, revealing how form can discipline the body without overt violence.