Ouroboros
An Exhibition In Three Acts
In Ouroboros, artist Machine Dazzle presents a maximalist wonderland inspired by the ancient symbol of a snake consuming its own tail. Unfolding in three acts, Dazzle’s installation explores a journey of infinities and stories of eternal life and rebirth.
The exhibition takes visitors on a symbolic odyssey through Dazzle’s unique point of view, weaving found objects and locally sourced materials into an immersive experience. As the installation progresses, the gallery space transforms, revealing new layers of meaning and inviting contemplation on the cyclical nature of existence.
In the initial act, the gallery serves as a canvas for Dazzle’s lavish interpretation of the Ouroboros. Subsequent acts introduce dynamic shifts. The culmination unfolds as the sculpture spawns 12 wearables that will be activated by a group of performers. This final act, a celebration coinciding with LGBTQ Pride Month, symbolizes the interconnectedness of the installation with contemporary narratives.
Content note: This exhibition features depictions of human genitalia.
ACT III
ACT II
In ACT II Ouroboros evolves, exploding out of itself and into the gallery in new ways — creating more for the viewer to consider and discover.
ACT I
In ACT I, Ouroboros includes found objects and locally sourced materials crafted by Machine Dazzle into a glittering sculpture hung from the ceiling of the gallery. Mirrored walls reflect the work back onto itself and visitors in a cycle of repetition and refraction. ACT I also includes a soundscape created by the artist by manipulating parts of the sculpture underwater.
Behind the Scenes
As a Roman J. Witt Artist in Residence, Machine Dazzle has been developing and creating Ouroboros in collaboration with the University of Michigan community. To make visible the creative process through the creation of a defined work from concept to completion, is a central tenet of the residency. See more about the process in our image gallery.
About the Artist
Machine Dazzle is the 2024 Roman J. Witt Artist In Residence. For nearly two decades, Machine Dazzle has been producing spectacular costumes, sets, and performances that transfix audiences with a maximalist kaleidoscope. In recent years, Dazzle has brought his vibrant vision, informed by queer culture and expressions of the queer body, to the creation of bespoke installations. Machine Dazzle’s work has been exhibited internationally. His first solo exhibition, Queer Maximalism x Machine Dazzle, was held at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City in 2022.
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In the Media
About the University of Michigan Roman J. Witt Residency
The Roman J. Witt Residency Program, developed with the support of University of Michigan alumna Penny W. Stamps and named in honor of her father, is an annual international competition that awards one residency per academic year to a visiting artist/designer who proposes to develop a new work in collaboration with University of Michigan students and faculty.
SUPPORT
Machine Dazzle: Ouroboros is produced by Chrisstina Hamilton, Jim Leija, Andrew Cohen, Matt Casadonte, and Niki Fairchild Azevedo with studio support from Ana Trujillo Garcia. Sound editing by Matthew Girard.
Machine Dazzle: Ouroboros is presented in partnership with the Roman J. Witt Artist in Residence Program of the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, with lead support provided by the U-M Office of the Provost, U-M Arts Initiative, Candy and Michael Barasch, Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Barbara Timmer, Susan and Richard Gutow, and the U-M LSA Honors Program. Additional generous support is provided by the U-M School of Social Work. Special thanks to Barbara Tober and the Acronym Fund. Machine Dazzle is represented by Pomegranate Arts.
