The GRATERS

ANTI-ASSAULT / FEMME-POWERED / WEAPON-WEAR, 2013

ROLE: ARTIST

graters Design: Heidi Darveaux

Metal fabrication: Diego Guzman

The Graters are a response to existence in a world where the body of the individual is often visually consumed and physically assaulted. Formed from a common and accessible household item, The Graters divert the sexualization of the female form to an armored weapon. An apparatus that is both a garment and defense armor, it can be worn to serve its utilitarian purpose as an assault deterrent. It reframes the female form as an sacred entity to be revered, protected and feared if transgressed. 

THE GRATERS ARE PART OF THE DESTRUCTION RITUAL SERIES. THE DRS IS AN ONGOING EXPLORATION OF THE BODY AS SACRED WEAPON, A PRACTICE WHERE SISYPHEAN REPETITION TRANSFORMS DESTRUCTION INTO RITUAL. OFTEN USING SACRED OR FETISHIZED OBJECTS AND MATERIALS, THESE RITUALS ARE THE PHYSICAL CATALYST OF TRANSMUTATION SPELLS…INTENTIONAL DESTRUCTION AS RE-BIRTH THROUGH CREATION AND RELEASE. THE SERIES SPEAKS TO PHYSICAL AGENCY, BODILY AUTONOMY AND FREE WILL AGAINST CENSORSHIP THROUGH PRACTICING ACTS OF TABOO EROTICISM. THESE ACTS EXIST IN PARADOX, BLURRING THE LINES BETWEEN WHAT IS SACRED OR PROFANE. LIKE THE MYSTICAL OR JUNGIAN ARCHETYPE OF THE TRICKSTER, THE DRS POINTS TO THE DISMANTLING AND CLEARING OF LARGER LESS TANGIBLE STRUCTURES OUTSIDE OF THE PHYSICAL THROUGH ACTS OF PSYCHO-MAGICAL DESTRUCTION. 

Performances of the Graters have been featured in film TriTonia (2018) directed by Marcelle Marais and showcased in virtual group show E-VICTION (2020).