Two major sculptures from the Body Politic series, begun in 1988 while François Morelli was living in New York. Created in response to the American policies of the time – particularly in relation to the AIDS crisis and the surrounding censorship movements – these works powerfully interrogate the control exerted by the state over bodies. Drawing inspiration from medieval armor, restraining devices, and institutional and fetishistic imagery, the sculptures subvert the protective function of the cuirass to reveal violence and oppression. By highlighting sexual and gender diversity, Body Politic denounces the stigmatization of marginalized bodies and remains strikingly relevant today in the face of ongoing issues concerning LGBTQIA2S+ rights and bodily autonomy.
Left: François Morelli, Body Politic (Plein corps), 1990, Steel strapping, bolts, nuts, and straps, 147 x 61 x 23 cmà
Right: François Morelli, Body Politic (Corps en deux parties), 1990, Steel strapping, bolts, nuts, and straps, 66 x 71 x 28 cm (body I Torso), 53 x 119 x 30 cm (body II)