Introduction

Elīna Vītola Flo Kasearu’s artistic collaboration project Sick elicits a reflection on parasites and art through the infestation of existing sculptures articulating the different aspects of parasitism, both in art and in nature. Flo and Elīna’s work highlights the double-sidedness of parasites, which cannot be judged on moral terms of good and bad despite the great damage that they can cause. In parallel to epidemics that affect humans and nonhumans alike, parasites are also to be thanked for fermented food and drink.

Sick is a life-sized, bronze sculpture of a tick, taking two forms. One is a miniature bronze insect installed on existing plaster casts of Apollo Belvedere body parts (Sicker Ear and Sicker Foot), the other – Sick – a detached tick sculpture, which is available to be installed on existing artworks, preferably sculptures, in private or public collections.

Works are in collaboration with Temnikova and Kasela Gallery.

The idea and the first work from the series was born at the Savvaļa residency. The project has been exhibited in London at the Dorich House Museum, in Tallinn at the Estonian Art Museum in Kadriorg at the exhibition “Power“ and in Tartu at the University of Tartu Natural History Museum at the exhibition “Unknown” and at the University of Tartu Art Museum at the exhibition “Sicker”.