# Gruesome Religious Sculptures Saints Alive by Michael Landy Re-Imagines Iconic Statues and Figures By Meghan Young | Published 2013-05-24 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/saints-alive References: [itsnicethat](http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/michael-landy-saints-alive) & [nationalgallery.org.uk](http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/michael-landy-saints-alive) 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." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.0/10 - Popularity: 39% | Activity: 14% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) ## Key Themes ### 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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [UK-Based Modern Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/relics-in-the-landscape.md) - [Futuristic Museum Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unnatural-history-museum-of-singapore.md) - [Psychedelic Sculptural Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/frank-stella-recent-sculpture.md) - [Spiky Inflatable Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inflatable-sculptures1.md) - [Artful Suspended Fashion Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/invisible-figures.md) - [Artful Meditative Sculptural Caves](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drawing-on-space.md) - [Statement Street Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surreal-street-art-1.md) - [Minimalist Wooden Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minimalist-wooden-figures.md) - [Contemporary Sculptural Shrines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sculptural-shrine.md)