The tales of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm serve as an influence for Kafka and a basis for his inversion and departure from traditional fairytale motifs. Focusing specifically on transformation tales, it explores some of the classic structures of Kunstmärchen (art-tales) written by fairytale pioneers, the brothers Grimm. Polished concrete, dichroic glass, mother of pearl, aluminium and mirror.This study examines Franz Kafka’s use of fairytale motifs in his short story The Metamorphosis. An acid etched aluminium base was created and the mirror and concrete was fixed to it. Mirror was shaped to sit underneath and the face was airbrushed with acrylic inks and painted with enamels. The eyes were painted on the underside of the wings from enamel. The wings were moulded out of concrete with dichroic glass inlays and mother of pearl before being polished.
How would the eyes look painted on the back of the wings? Would there be enough light for the reflected eyes to appear? Would the reflected eyes line up with the face painted on the mirror? I have to admit I was ecstatic when I finally placed the wings over the mirror and realised that the eyes were following around the workshop! One windmill conquered – but I am sure there are many more to come! This creative adventure was quite a challenge, as there were many variables that I hadn’t experimented with previously involved. In this piece, Kafka’s father’s omnipresent eyes pursue the viewer around the room, reflected through Kafka’s own face painted on mirror. In it he talked about his feelings of inadequacy, resentment and constant guilt. He articulated his distress shortly before he died in a lengthy letter to his father.
He held a perpetual sense of failure to meet his father’s expectations. In a way, this story is analogous to Kafka’s relationship with his father. The story tells of Gregor’s frustration and distress at being a burden to his family and inability to look after himself. In Kafka’s short story, Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa awakens one morning to discover he has been transformed into a helpless bug.
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