The Influencer

Exotic wood, acorn shells, resin, internet wire
“21st Century” collection

Size: 57 cm x 48 cm x 50 cm (Height, Width, Depth)
Weight: 3,5 kg
Berlin 2019

– Self esteem marketing – World wide web – Role model faking –

This sculpture embodies the paradoxes of influence and identity in the digital age. Crafted as a surreal, hybrid insect, the piece merges organic and artificial elements, symbolizing the ways in which online personas are both cultivated and distorted. The intricate wings, filled with repetitive, hollow forms, suggest the endless feeds and posts that create a façade of self-worth. The exposed wiring antennas imply connection but hint at the vulnerability of constant exposure, as these extensions are fragile, almost raw.

In a world dominated by screens, we are surrounded by figures who shape our desires, aspirations, and perceptions—”role models” who, through carefully curated images, project a perfection that rarely reflects reality. Yet, beneath this glossy surface is often emptiness, a hollow that reveals the toll of endless self-marketing. This piece confronts the viewer with the influence of digital personas on self-esteem, the pervasive culture of comparison, and the underlying hollowness in the pursuit of validation through the web.

As viewers, we’re encouraged to reflect on our own participation in this ecosystem. Are we creating or consuming? Are we inspiring, or merely projecting a polished veneer? This work invites us to question the value we place on appearances and to consider the depth—or lack thereof—behind the images that fill our digital lives.