Chinese Swasrika Plugs

My mom was born in a bomb shelter while my Swedish grandmother was escaping Germany with two other young daughters. My grandma, Mormor, had to change trains repeatedly since the English were bombing the railroad tracks, and on arriving alone in Sweden she had no choice but to put my mother and aunts with foster parents. My German grandfather was only able to leave the country after the war ended. They managed to reunite with the children and my family immigrated to the USA on a boat shortly thereafter.

Fifty years later I am returning to Germany to attend the Body Modification Exchange in Essen, and I have been working on these Chinese Swastika plugs as part of a new collection for the show. I think it ironic how life works, and I wonder what my strict German grandfather would think about my tattoos and piercings (and swastika plugs) if he were still alive. Of course that is the whole idea of presenting swastika plugs in Germany, to help remove the Nazi stigma on an ancient and universal symbol. The swastika represents a cross in motion, inner energy, good luck, and well being.

The idea of rehabilitating the swastika is nothing new. I was first introduced to the idea by the classic Re/Search # 12 Modern Primitives interview with ManWoman, a Canadian artist who had his arms and back tattooed with dozens of swastikas beginning in the sixties. Of Polish descent ManWoman had taken it on as part of his life mission to change the modern perception of the swastika and even founded a swastika museum.

Last year in Europe I saw a whole new generation of young modified peoples who are really taking the next step de-toxifying the symbol. There is even a suspension group from the Netherlands named the Flying Swastikas. It is encouraging to see change and to confront outdated, stigmatized perceptions right at the source. So these plugs are my contribution to the cause, and hats off to the next generation!