Inspired by the vast everyday life RobOtto – a.k.a. Ottó Szabó – decided to take his turn on the topic of masculinity and the connection between humankind and its machines. The exhibition titled Lumberjack Gym is on view at the heatwave- and summer-friendly exhibition space located on a rooftop terrace – ENA Viewing Space. All the artworks – except the three brick figurines gazing down to the exhibition from the actual rooftop situated next to the gallery space – are real and perfectly functional gym room gears. The barbells in different shapes and sizes are all designed and built by the exhibiting artist RobOtto. The exhibit even features a full-length mirror so regular gym guests can follow up on their physical progress.
The pop-up gym show is a heartwarmingly humorous but still oddly cynical take on the topic of body image in the era of social media and society's expectations regarding how masculinity is shaped – illustrated by the figure of the forever manly, confident and bold lumberjack character.
RobOtto often uses various, so-called wastes in his practice as inspirations – here the idea of using raw wood material came from laying logs seen at a lumber yard. As visitors starting to discover the gym exhibition by animating the gears them and their motions become essential and fundamental parts of the show.