Corphysia

The human body historically has been used as a vessel for expression. Philosophers argue whether we 
are at one with our bodies or alienated from it – creating a philosophical debate about the human 
condition and how we as humans interact with reality. One way our physical forms interact with external 
and internal stimuli is with body language, serving as a powerful communicator. By drawing connections 
with the symbolism of chess with surrealist art and psychological theories, I sought to challenge 
traditional representations of chess and the human body. Drawing inspiration from Man Ray’s 
unconventional imagery, I too used symbolic shapes to convey deeper meanings, using body language to 
convey ideas around strength and submissiveness. Chess acts as a visual metaphor for the human 
condition, pieces being “conditioned” by positions and movements, reflecting a deeper psychological 
status. This is pushed further by eliminating the opposing player and the checkered design. Disrupting 
the familiar structure of the game. Doing this mirrors the dissociating nature of the human condition, 
where interactions with reality can seem unclear and boundaries blurred; despite having set moves we 
have multiple possibilities.  This encourages viewers to reconsider the human experience and how body 
language can express both conscious and unconscious aspects of reality in a never-ending game.