Julian Robbins



immolation







Immolation





Immolation is a mixed media sculptural work exploring the self, self destruction, and the sanctity of the body. The work consists of a wax, thermoplastic, and 3D printed PLA sculpture, internally lit by LED's programmed for stage fire prop lighting, over which a video is projected. The video, which runs 2 minutes and 13 seconds long and plays in 6 minute intervals, consists of newsreel footage of the April 2019 Notre Dame fire and public domain footage of forest fires and volcanic eruptions, alongside the text "your body is a temple," "and then I saw the spire fall," and "why do you strive for self destruction?"


Immolation draws a connection between the self and that that is culturally revered- holy places, works of great architecture, and untouched wilderness- as well as between self harm/self destruction and the wild and destructive power of fire.





The three heads of the figure in Immolation are based on a photogrammetric scan of the artist's own head and upper torso made at the photogrammetry lab at The Ohio State University. Immolation was printed in 15 pieces due to its relatively large scale, and rather than trying to obscure the seams where the pieces met, they are embraced by joining the pieces with a translucent thermoplastic through which light from the LEDs behind the sculpture would shine. Further adding to the play with materials and translucency, wax was dripped from lit candles onto the sculpture and the candle stubs incorporated into the sculpture itself.