The Hunger Artist's Palace

In the project "The Hunger Artist's Palace", I reflect on the nature of being an artist. Inspired by Franz Kafka’s story "The Hunger Artist", I construct a palace-cage for an imaginary artist, perhaps a version of myself. Locked-in inhabitant hones his or her craft, devoting all the time. This practice is hidden, but at the same time craves for attention. The owner of this palace is hungry. But this hunger is metaphorical; it is an endless search for ideas, meanings, magic. At the heart of this hunger lies a deep, persistent ache, an almost physical pull in the gut, to remain an artist completely and unconditionally, to fuse one’s existence with art itself. Exposed to all the winds, the palace stands at the center of a spinning carousel. Just beyond its edge flickers the ghost of a different life—perhaps easier, more secure—forever circling, yet never quite within reach.