External action 2018

Thiago Boecan created this sculpture, "External Action," using cotton and nails. The soft, cloud-like form of the cotton is immediately striking, yet this comforting texture is disrupted by the rigid, dark nails that protrude from within. The sculpture seems to both invite and repel, creating a visual and tactile paradox. The nails, uniformly spaced and angled, introduce a structure that contrasts with the organic shape of the cotton. This formal juxtaposition can be interpreted through a semiotic lens, where cotton signifies vulnerability and the nails signify external impositions and aggressions. The work reflects the artist's concern with the tensions between inner sensitivity and external forces. Note how the artist uses scale. The work is neither monumental nor diminutive, but rather human-scaled, inviting a personal, almost intimate encounter. This allows viewers to reflect on their own experiences of vulnerability and resilience, as the sculpture embodies a dynamic interplay between the physical and the emotional, challenging us to consider the structures that shape our perceptions.