The Saints Alive exhibit reinterprets iconic religious statues and figures in rather gruesome ways. They have been creepily deconstructed and reattached with mechanical parts to give them a Frankenstein makeover. In this way, the title of Saints Alive exhibit takes on a whole new meaning. Through these mechanical makeovers, the sculptures are essentially constructed robotic saints that move. Visitors themselves move them by cranking a foot pedal mechanism.
Created by British artist Michael Landy, the Saints Alive exhibit is being hosted by The National Gallery in London, England. According to It's Nice That, "[H]is imagination was captured by the images of saints dotted around the museum and how their single-mindedness lead to horrific deaths and self-harm. He wanted to bring back these “bad saints” whose stories had fallen into obscurity."
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Re-imagined Religious Imagery
- Opportunity to create new and innovative imagery in religious art and craft field by re-imagining traditional figures and methods.
- Mechanical Makeover Sculptures
- Opportunity to create new and innovative sculptures using mechanical attachments as a crucial element.
- Interactive Museum Installations
- Opportunity to create interactive installations in museum and gallery spaces that allow visitors to interact and engage with exhibits.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Religious Art and Craft
- An opportunity to introduce new and innovative techniques in designing and creating religious statues and figures using mechanical attachments and robotic concepts.
- Sculpture Industry
- An opportunity to innovate the industry by creating sculptures that incorporate unconventional materials and mechanical aspects in their design.
- Museum and Gallery Industry
- An opportunity to introduce interactive installations in the museum and gallery spaces, making the exhibits more engaging and interesting for the visitors.
