Exploiting Our Insecurities 

In a chronically online world, where we are constantly bombarded with images of ‘perfect bodies’, there’s a growing concern that over-exercising can become an unhealthy obsession.

The pursuit of likes, comments, and followers can become an addiction driven by the insecurity of needing external validation for self-worth, which can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy. These unrealistic expectations lead to people abusing steroids and weight-loss injections, in an attempt to look a certain way.

While once seen as a sordid taboo, steroids and weight-loss jobs are now vastly destigmatised, possibly due to the sheer increase of users over the last decade. A 2014 BBC Newsbeat report highlighted figures from a charity showing a 645% increase in steroid users visiting its needle exchanges between 2010 and 2013.

Many influencers and companies benefit from exploiting our insecurities. By tapping into our innate desires for acceptance, validation, belonging, and self-improvement, they can then leverage our doubts and fears to influence our behavior, purchases, beliefs, or self-perception. Advertisers often suggest that you’re not enough without their product, products which are then presented as the solution to these manufactured insecurities.

This sculpture has been deliberately created to address these concerns, and promote moderation and common sense.