Susan MacPhail

09 Bad Dream

A surrealist installation that captures the psychological tension of a dental nightmare, exploring the fear of loss and the inevitable disintegration of the human body.

“"Bad Dream" Marion (the mannequin) booked an appointment with her dental hygiene practitioner to have her teeth cleaned because she had a bad dream about losing all her teeth. With this sculpture I intended to reference the physical disintegration of the body (teeth falling out, the void of the mouth) and also tap into the emotional and mental instability that comes with the fear of loss and doubt. I want to challenge both the viewer’s intellect and their perception when they view this sculpture of Marion’s nightmare. ”