Lips symbolise desire, lust and sensuality. And that’s because we use them to make contact with others, by expressing our emotions and wishes or even literally with a kiss.
Your lips are even more sensitive than your fingertips and contain as many as 10,000 nerve endings, that, when stimulated (by a kiss, for example) send signals to your brain. Although UxU Studio’s large red lips don’t contain that many lights, with around 1,500 lights the artists still give you an idea of the amount of information they can pass on.
But lips also symbolise our oldest and most important form of communication, spoken word. We translate our thoughts into words, which in turn form the basis for all our more ‘classic’ written and printed texts as well as newer forms of communication such as vlogs, podcasts or audiobooks.
Lips have often been elevated to the status of an artwork, with the most famous example being the Salvador Dalí sofa modelled on the mouth of American actress Mae West.
The artists, designers and architects of UxU Studio almost always use light in their designs. They often bring a playful element to their installations, which can also be seen in Desire if you look closely. From the side, the image of the lips disappears, and you see a heartbeat instead – our hearts beat faster with strong desires. But giving in to your desires can be dangerous: the red lights, much like a traffic light or a red card on a football field, are also a warning.
DESIRE IS SUPPORTED BY:
Canal Tours Amsterdam, part of Stromma Netherlands
