OLYMPIA

Olympia is a companion piece to Paluzzi’s installation Tales of hoffmann. Olympia, the automaton from Der Sandmann and the opera The Tales of Hoffmann (1880), performs her aria “Les oiseaux dans la charmille,” captivating her audience, who remain unaware of her artificial nature. This work draws on the theme of deception, capturing the uncanny quality of Olympia as both a mesmerizing performer and an unsettling object.

In the photograph, the same ceramic doll head used to create the AI video in Tales of hoffmann is featured, further bridging the connection between the installation and this still image.

Olympia

Pigment ink print on cotton rag paper
30 x 27 in | Edition of 3
2023