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Cycle Masturbation Machines, Jan Švankmajer, 1972-1973

February 23, 2012 by Fosco Lucarelli 3 Comments

A great influence for Terry Gilliam and many other authors, Czech filmaker and surrealism artist Jan Švankmajer drew, in the early 70’s, a set of coin-operated masturbation machines based on scientific, historical and anatomical iconography.

Implemented by the State with the aim of providing a complete control over the sexuality of its citizen, these machines would ensure the workers a more satisfactory lifestyle, enable them to better focus on labor, avoid sexually transmitted disease and decrease sexual crime.

The machines themselves are composed of hidraulically operated artificial vaginas and penises, stimulating audiotapes, cartridges full of ejaculating substances, a disinfection system for the vagina and detailed user manuals.

These satirical works have been featured in the recent exhibition “Mondes inventés, Mondes habités” (“Invented Worlds, Inhabited Worlds”), at the MUDAM Museum in Luxembourg.

A review of the exhibition can be read on WMMNA.

Another personal exhibition (Unnatural history museum) is held in gallery Kerstin Engholm, Wien.

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Trackbacks

  1. re says:
    July 9, 2012 at 7:57 am

    […] them to better focus on labor, avoid sexually transmitted disease and decrease sexual crime. (via Cycle Masturbation Machines, Jan Švankmajer, 1972-1973 : socks-studio) (Source: http://socks-studio.com/2012/02/23/cycle-masturbation-machines-jan-svankmajer-1972-1973/) […]

  2. re says:
    July 9, 2012 at 7:57 am

    […] them to better focus on labor, avoid sexually transmitted disease and decrease sexual crime. (via Cycle Masturbation Machines, Jan Švankmajer, 1972-1973 : socks-studio) (Source: http://socks-studio.com/2012/02/23/cycle-masturbation-machines-jan-svankmajer-1972-1973/) […]

  3. Fritz Kahn: Human Body as an Industrialized World : socks-studio says:
    August 24, 2012 at 1:55 pm

    […] absolutely surreal Head Sections Nikolai Lutohin, Sci-fi illustrations from 70′s Yugoslavia Cycle Masturbation Machines, Jan Švankmajer, 1972-1973 McKnight Kauffer’s The World in 2030 “The Architect’s Brain”, illustration […]

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Socks is a non-linear journey through distant territories of human imagination.

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SOCKS is a project by Fosco Lucarelli and Mariabruna Fabrizi of MICROCITIES, Architecture Cityscape, Landscape.
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