This sculpture is part of a series of works whose titles all begin with ‘Living Means …’ Embedded in these titles is a philosophical question that invites multiple interpretations. Trockel, however, does not locate the works in a philosophical, religious, or scientific context; rather, she relates them to everyday experiences. All the works in this series depict a young woman lying on her stomach, engaged in mundane activities such as looking at pictures, reading books, or – as in the work shown here – listening to music.
Living Means to Play Some Records was conceived within the framework of the film Pausa, in which a young woman appears wearing the same outfit. Trockel created a life-size polyester cast of the protagonist, placed it on a rescue blanket, and dressed it in clothing identical to that of its human counterpart. This setup creates a deliberate sense of ambiguity: it recalls the resting girl from Pausa but also evokes the image of someone suffering from injury.
