Oath
This device, inspired by The Oath of the Horatii by Jacques-Louis David, fuses the potential actions of the peripheral figures in the painting. The central figure of the painting, Horatius, is flanked by his sons who swear on their swords and the lamenting sisters and mother. This machine moves the aggressive potential of the soldiers into the space of the female figures and subverts their sorrow by defiantly cutting the painting.
electric motor and mechanical components, wood, steel, springs and continuously stretched canvas: 8"x13", overall, 36"x45", 2009
Oath from Michael Marks on Vimeo.