The Swimmer Sculpture (WIP)

With this piece, I wanted to explore the relationship between the human body and water, connecting it to themes of movement, transformation, and particularly flow that comes with physical activity, especially in sports. The fragmented body parts—like the hands, head and, feet—are meant to feel surreal, almost as if they’re emerging from or merging with this fluid, dreamlike space. The blue surface represents water, but it’s also symbolic of the natural flow athletes experience when they’re fully immersed in their craft.

The focus on the head and feet ties into the experience of women in sports—the head symbolizes determination, focus, and resilience, while the feet represent the physical effort and progression athletes make, step by step. For women, breaking barriers in sports often feels like this mix of grounding oneself while pushing forward through challenges.

The red cap on the head is a nod to swimming or synchronized sports, activities that require precision, control, and grace. It’s about finding that harmony between strength and fluidity. The placement of the body parts creates a narrative—a journey through water, both literal and metaphorical. It reflects the natural rhythm and flow you achieve when you fully connect with your body as an athlete, moving in tune with your surroundings.

It’s not meant to feel disturbing, though I get why it might. The surreal setup highlights the tension between the familiar (the human body) and the unfamiliar (this abstract environment). Ultimately, I wanted to celebrate women’s physicality, resilience, and the transformative power of sport, while leaving room for viewers to interpret it in their own way.

Main Materials used: 

(Hands, Head, and foot) 

 alginate molds (Aija-Safe skin safe molding gel)

-Silicone Rubber (Body Double Smooth-On)

- Plaster

- Watercolor painting

- Varnish Spray

(for the water effect) 

- Resin (Smooth-Cast™ 325 ColorMatch™ Series) 

- Fine glitter to add texture and depth to the "water"

- Any disposable pool table cloth 

- Foam paper

Process:

+ brilliant! I move on my part—nailed my own finger while trying to attach the foot. Truly a stroke of genius. And the cherry on top? A piece broke off, because why not? Nothing a band-aid and sheer denial can't fix!

This white brushes are glue to mimic water effect - but the best water result was achieved with resin and glitter!

I secured the sculpture in a foam paper to prepare it for the resin application.