An Exploration of Materiality and Perception

The sculpture “Bed of Nails,” conceived for performance artist Moll Brau’s exhibition, “Sweet Dreams” at Rusha & Co. Gallery in Los Angeles, embodies a controlled exploration of fragility and comfort within a defined spatial context. Fabricated from steel, acrylic, and over 7,000 nails, the installation evokes a juxtaposition of industrial robustness and delicate precariousness, challenging the viewer’s perceptions of stability.

The use of steel provides a stark, unyielding foundation that contrasts with the perceived vulnerability of the nails, which, despite their sharpness, are arranged with such density that they collectively create a new plane of interaction. The acrylic sheet provides clarity and enhances the buoyant quality of the piece. This plane, both visually penetrative and physically daunting, invites contemplation on the boundaries between pain and comfort, solidity and fragility.