Sacred Heart/

A classical religious plaster Sacred Heart statue stands in a metal frame, with a belt sander above it. When the machine is switched on, gravity slowly presses the rotating sanding surface onto the statue with a deafening noise, grinding it away bit by bit. In a photo series I show several phases of this process, which was also captured on video. The work confronts the viewer with the mechanical destruction of a cultural and spiritual symbol and connects this to the crumbling faith in our present-day society. It raises questions about the transience and vulnerability of both physical icons and the values they represent. Music credits: Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) | Quindon Tarver.