pascal hachem deforms everyday tools for an exhibition against elitism

pascal hachem deforms everyday tools for an exhibition against elitism
photo © giorgio benni
all images courtesy of the pascal hachem and federica schiavo gallery

artist pascal hachem has deformed the everyday objects of agricultural and industrial workers for ‘you always want what the other has’ in rome’s federica schiavo gallery.  the show features a series of tools such as shovels, rakes, and hammers with shafts that have been twisted with two right angles, resulting in a 180-degree angle where the tools appear to turn on themselves.

the twisted tools are arrayed parallel to one another
photo © giorgio benni

influenced by aspects of daily life in the city, this deliberate use of ordinary items is a common theme throughout hachem’s work. this has forced him to combat his belief that, ‘art is becoming more and more for an elite – for selective public. for selective titles.’  thus, within the work, he continues, ‘the shifting of direction equals the shifting of power.’ in art historian gregory buchakjian’s interpretation, he suggests that, ‘losing his operational apparatus, the worker loses everything.’ buchakjian also goes on to understand the work as, ‘a reflection on greed. every human being wants to eat his neighbor’s piece of bread. every corporation wants to eat their own employees, as well as competitive corporations. every empire wants to eat the rest of the world.’

the artist worked with shovels, rakes, and garden forks
photo © giorgio benni

view of the space from above
photo © giorgio benni

10 iron and wood garden tools were used throughout the exhibition
photo © giorgio benni

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.