Art Info

Cheek Lift Face Corset with Neck Brace 2,
Patrick Ian Hartley, 2004

Materials: Wool/silk blend, satin rattail, brass hardware

Dimensions: Variable

Made to order.

Throughout Paddy Hartley’s career, a constant theme of investigation in his work is the way in which the human body is changed, modified and reconfigured either by choice or circumstance. Addressing subjects such as steroid use in bodybuilding, the discourse between faith groups and biomedical research, the ethics of human cloning and conflict acquired injury. His work has taken the form of installation, ceramic, assembled objects, garment creation and modification and digital embroidery.

Paddy’s artistic enquiry focuses predominantly on how the face can be, and is transformed or manipulated both through deliberate and unintentional intervention and the way in which we subsequently respond to these changes. Most notably in the design and production of his ‘Face Corsets’, producing facial implants for clinical use and latterly his output for ‘Project Facade': Responding to the surgical and personal stories of facially injured WW1 servicemen.

£675