Victoria Norton
a rowdy whir, or the perpetual ride (a consolation prize for holding on)
My work began with the concept of re-creating the motion of a mechanical bull through a metal machine that bucks and spins. At the top, rather than a bull and rider, a shiny gold steel platform remains in perpetual motion, hinting at a thrilling ride and reflecting space and light in a performance all its own. A depiction of a trophy suggests the prize culture typical of humans. Devoid of bodily warmth, the machine whirs coldly and shakes violently. In this piece I consider what is left in the void of the body—both animal and human—as this self-propelling object remains endlessly in motion, constantly performing.
