Why Can’t People Stop Licking This Artist’s Sculptures?
There is no shortage of weird and wacky creations in the world of art. Joseph Marr, a Berlin-based multi-medium artist from Australia, makes sculptures of the female form from sugar. His saccharine sculptures have attracted tons of press and art lovers with sweet tooths, who interestingly enough, want to lick it.
Joseph Marr shared his reaction to the licking trend with the Great Big Story, “I never expected people to eat the sculpture. I just thought it would be nice for them to see it. But then, people just started licking it, and I was like, ‘What are you doing?’ You don’t know who’s licked there before.”
The sugary sculpts are surprisingly smooth like marble, but have a honey-like smell. They more-so resemble resin that’s been carefully, and beautifully, manipulated by hand. In an interview with The Photo Phore, Marr describes the process of working with sugar as wonderful yet difficult. He compares its texture to paint and explains how temperature plays a major part and that timing is everything.
Cooties and bacteria bombs aside, there’s a deeper meaning behind his use of sugar. Along with being sensual, sugar is a drug, an energy source, and a life source. From the process of photosynthesis to molecules floating in outer space, sugar exists everywhere.
“I just love the look on people’s faces when they understand it’s sugar, because most people don’t actually know. And then, when they hear that it’s sugar, they go, ‘What?’ And then they look at it again. And then I think that makes them feel more part of it.”
Marr’s “Open Heart” sugar sculpture is currently on view at Park am Gleisdreieck, Berlin. Unfortunately, or maybe for the best, it’s encased and outdoors, so you won’t be able to lick it.
