KISS YOURSELF
glass object, 2023
free hand blown glass
made during Karin Forslund’s class

The work refers to masculine behavior, such as the action of inflating a frog, which involves placing lips to the animal’s mouth and filling it with air like a balloon. This cruel play is typically performed by boys to showcase bravado, attract attention, and derive pleasure from aggression. The second reference is linked to the fairy tale „The Frog Prince,” depicting a man transformed into a frog, with the potential to be restored through a kiss. I evoke both references through the glass-blowing process while creating my own frog. On one hand, I draw attention to stereotypical masculine traits imposed during upbringing. On the other hand, I invoke its archetypal masculine features and meanings.