Tetsuo’s Arm, 2021

Like many, I was utterly fascinated with the world of the 1988 movie, Akira. Its uniquely stylistic take on the future, along with the backdrop of the bustling neon streets of Neo-Tokyo, offers a brutal look into the industrious future. Tackling themes of class consciousness, corporatism, environmentalism, and ultimately, what makes us human.

Tetsuo, a young boy from a local biker gang, is eventually is overwhelmed by a newfound telekinetic power within him after an accident. He faces extreme pain and emotional turmoil throughout this process, but ultimately becomes something no human has been before.

From where his right arm once was, a eldritch tendril of flesh and machine alike sprouts. Giving the already powerful Tetsuo a physical manifestation of his anger and confusion that bends to his very will.

I found myself utterly fascinated by this blending of organic and industrious materials, and haven’t been able to get its potential in the genre body horror out of my head. Henceforth the creation of this project, and my inspiration for using motors, tubing, and wiring to starkly contrast the central amalgamation of flesh