Alexander Glass is a sculptor and installation artist, living and working in London
Desire is physical; this is the notion that underpins my sculptural and installation practise. Through gloss surfaces and cinematically aspirational imagery, I aim to seduce audiences into the theatre of my work. The veneer of translucent resins and polished tiles serve to disguise more sinister aspects of my thematic intentions. Violence, narcissism and apathy are all hidden within the cold blue objects, representative of perfection and power. The work's frequently minimalist and pristine appearance presents a duality, between appeal and its instantaneous reduction through cracking surfaces or lingering bodily traces.
Often functioning as sets without performers, my works explore the complex relationship between masculinity and desire. Spaces such as locker-rooms, swimming pools and nightclubs are frequently exploited as familiar contexts whilst exploring their association with the sexualisation of the male body. Through my academic research I investigate the history of the masculine ideal; from the idolatry of the ancient greek to the modern obsession with the superhero and the impact the age of social media has had on the self-image. This research manifests in my installations through the presentation of the ubiquitous physical body that only appears disembodied or on the surface of a screen. The desire for the male figure and the fabricated image of masculinity is left for the viewer to contemplate within artificial environments of visual ambition. Through this, my practice offers a critical and melancholy lens on the vulnerability of the potent male image and the world of aspiration.