Maja Malou Lyse (b. 1993, Denmark) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice explores themes regarding the complexities of identity, body image, pleasure politics and social dynamics through an incredibly immersive practice. Lyse’s sculpture Sex is not a natural act fills a section of the gallery floor. The sculpture’s form and surface refer to that of a dildo, albeit in on exaggerated scale. At this size, it moves beyond its intended use and its more sculptural properties come to the forefront. Laying prone on its side, it’s almost as if it’s laying in wait for someone.

Sex is not a natural act eloquently questions the normative process of identification, objectification and the aesthetics of desire to underline the problematics of representation politics and power dynamics within our image consumption. The work opens itself up to larger discussions around imagery and visual content in our contemporary world. How do the images that maintain a constant presence in our lives influence the way we behave and the way we look at ourselves?

Filmed and edited by Andreas Rosforth.