The Human Stencil
A participatory artwork that invites you to leave your mark.
01
The Project
This exhibition features a participatory or community-based artwork, a location designed to engage the public directly in its creation. A large canvas hangs as a communal space for expression. You are invited to take the provided colored pencils and mark your presence upon the canvas.
02
Mark Your Presence
You may trace your own silhouette or ask another participant to do so, capturing your form in a dynamic or static pose. This act transforms you into a 'human stencil,' your unstylized silhouette becoming a tangible part of the artwork. By marking your presence, you become a collaborator, blurring the lines between artist and audience, and entering the art world through direct participation.
03
Become the Stencil
As the silhouettes accumulate, individual identities merge into a collective tapestry, a visual representation of shared experience. The artist encourages you to ask an unknown person to mark your silhouette, be conscious of the experience when having your silhouette marked by them, and feel free to express any discomfort or strange feelings that may arise as part of the experience of being subjected to another person's gaze.
04
The result
Following the exhibition, Julia Derbule will integrate these marks into her abstract figurative series, adding her distinctive style and transforming the collective contribution into a unified artistic statement.
05
Claim Your Body
This artwork invites us to challenge how bodies, particularly feminine figures, have been defined and idealized throughout history. By choosing how and where to mark the canvas, you decide how your body is represented. As the canvas fills, you may find your silhouette touches or overlaps with others. Feel empowered to share your experience, on paper or reflect on it privately. Ultimately, this work reminds us that our bodies are our own, and the choices we make about them are ours alone.
