Lois Ebben

2025

Lately, Lois has been particularly interested in the relationship between movement and the energy that generates movement(s). A human body requires energy in order to move and, in that sense, is dependent on nutrition. Driven by a strong belief that different energy sources affect movement in distinct ways—not only physically but also politically and socially—Lois examines how bodies are both enabled and governed through consumption. What if different kinds of energy do not just keep us going, but shape the ways we move, think, and relate to the world? Their research has taken a turn toward reimagining the ancient concept of bread and circuses—once a means of pacifying the masses—as a site for collective movement instead of containment. In their recent work, Lois explores how consumption operates not only on a bodily level, but as a quiet system of control. They approach this site critically and playfully, asking: what if different kinds of energy do not just sustain us, but choreograph us? If our movements are affected by what we consume, does the baker then hold a subtle form of power? Does the baker become a kind of puppeteer? And what happens when the bread itself begins to move?

Artist statement
Lois’ multi-media installations explore the complex tension between prevailing power structures and the autonomy of bodies within them. By blending methods drawn from both the food industry and activist practices, Lois creates bodies of work that challenge audiences to reflect on the systems that shape our daily lives and our capacity for resistance. Through their work, they address themes of control, agency, and the often-overlooked ways in which our environments influence our choices and identities. Lois’ installations invite viewers to question and reimagine the world around them, offering a space for critical engagement with the forces that govern both individual and collective bodies.

This page was last updated on July 8, 2025