‘Plumbumbarum!’ is the name of a magic spell in the fantasy game world: one which makes the opponent’s limbs heavy and slows down both their actions and their thinking.

Lead (Latin: plumbum) is a toxic heavy metal that harms our organs and poisons our brains and nerves, weighing us down. My installation responds to this burden on site – in both the concrete and the figurative sense – with air and lightness:

A huge inflated digestive apparatus made up of a gleaming and floating esophagus, stomach and intestines is moved gently back and forth by solar-powered fans. The delicate structure, made of semi-transparent plastic film, consists primarily of air, yet a great deal of power and technology is needed to keep its body alive.

The title plumbumbarum suggests childhood and wonder. Yet, while the rough seams of the milky white entity draw lines in the space at night, it is held in check by a heavy, inert industrial device. The iron adversary, unimpressed by spells and curses, indicates firmly that playtime is over and reality has set in.