Meaning: ‘Kla Ke’ is a homophonic wordplay blending the Flemish klakke (head) and the french claque, a hired audience that applauds or cheers during a performance.
The sourcing of materials for the headpieces begins with an imagined thought. I start by creating a blueprint of the Klakkes in my mind and researching objects that suit the textures I am seeking. The dominant material is selected so that it can transform from an ordinary object into an extraordinary shape. Additional materials, such as beads and fabrics, are carefully selected from various places. For example, the beads used in the yellow head piece were sourced from a bead shop in New York City while visiting a friend.
The hands are made of silicone with a metal skeleton inside, making them bendable and as lifelike as possible. They can be mounted onto different framed structures, allowing for various modes of presentation of the headpieces.
The klakkes are conceived as wearable objects. While displayed independently, they retain the potential to be activated by a body, shifting between autonomous sculpture and an extension of the wearer. They are made so that everyone can enter my imagined world and sense the power of transformation. With over 100 hours of hand labour invested in each piece they are carried by the hands of the maker. This not only represents the labour behind the work but also serves as a welcoming gesture into the creator’s world.
As a hair and make-up artist, this project reaches beyond my daily artistic practice and brings me closer to my identity I’m discovering as an artist. It challenges me to work with unfamiliar materials and techniques while combining disciplines to create something extraordinary from ordinary objects. By combining established skills with experimentation, I explore new ways of creating and allow myself the freedom to discover unexpected forms and possibilities throughout the process.
The Kla Ke project began in 2019 with the creation of the first Cla Ke for a video work. The film was written around two contrasting characters. One embodied the illusion of our society, while the other represented its protector and survivor. Have you noticed? Back in 2019 the name was written with a “C”.
The character embodying the illusion was portrayed by Erin Sandy. Throughout my artistic career, she has remained a parallel presence and an enduring muse. Through her musical and narrative talents, she brings a unique depth to my work, enriching each project in meaningful ways.
Giusi Schüller took on the role of the protector and survivor. She wore the protective headpiece known as the Kla Ke, giving physical form to this symbolic figure. With that first appearance, the Kla Ke project was born.
You can check out the video “here”