Iann An: Frank

In this arresting installation, artist Iann An presents Frank, an unveiled figure seated within their seemingly private sanctuary, housed within Te Uru’s window space. This casement fosters a voyeuristic tension between the viewer and Frank, prompting introspection on the essence of monstrosity and its origins.

Frank, constructed primarily from bread dough and wax, has an unsettling presence. Although emulating a human figure he defies conventional norms of bodily perfection. The figure appears vulnerable, presented for judgement. Frank symbolises humanity's impermanence and capacity for transformation, the materials of his make-up, inevitably subject to time and decay. Poetically underscoring life's fragility and the inevitability of death, while simultaneously suggesting the potential for growth within vulnerability.

By challenging traditional notions of wholeness and beauty, Frank emphasises the intricate, nature of the human psyche. This work aspires to evoke hope, tenderness, and bravery in the face of imperfection.

Image credit: Iann An, Frank, 2023, bread dough, wax, hair, fur, found stool. Image courtesy of the artist.