With artificial flowers attached to motorized objects (such as massagers and exercise devices), Rachel Youn’s animated sculptures are hypnotic and strangely erotic, the rhythmic sounds of both the machines and the movements of the plants pulsating throughout the gallery space.

Several of the sculptures feature coupled flowers that interact and move with each other—Perfect Lovers, composed of two tall branches of clustered white flowers moved by a baby rocker, is the most sensual, the cheeks of the undulating flowers nestling together. In The Nature of Love, a white dress hangs on the wall with a large leaf fastened at the crotch; moving up and down, the leaf becomes a fanning phallus. In these simple, repeating movements, the flowers become anthropomorphized, and any visitor will naturally make emotional associations with the physicality of the works.

Rachel Youn: “Well Adjusted”
Night Gallery
2276 E 16th St., Los Angeles, CA 90021
On view through October 28, 2023