Paul McCarthy has been developing his artistic practice since the late 1960s, in performance, sculpture, installation, video and “action painting.” In works that blend the altered worlds of childhood, popular entertainment, mass consumption and food, this internationally reputed artist explores subjects relating to collective and individual disorders that often stem from sexual urges and desires. These are staged using real or artificial foodstuffs. Ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard replace bodily fluids, while fibreglass apples, pears and tomatoes stand in for various bits of anatomy, all of which points up the close connection between human hunger and libido. Both are satisfied by the play of openings or orifices, penetrated by and ejecting foods, fluids, organs and other objects. In Tomato Head (1994), the orifices of the character are plugged up with carrots, cubes and rakes. Similar to the Mr. Potato Head^© toy, with its interchangeable sets of eyes, noses and mouths, this character could have its “plugs” exchanged, or eventually removed, becoming an orificial being.

M.BO.

Paul McCarthy. Tomato Head est présenté à EXPRESSION, 495, rue Saint-Simon.