JANUS FLEURI

The Hermaphrodite sculpture represents a confluence of male and female sexual characteristics, symbolizing the mythical attributes of Hermes and Aphrodite.
This ancient figure challenges traditional gender binaries by embodying an integrated representation of both biological sexes. It prompts reflections on the fluidity of gender and the intricacies of identity, inviting viewers to consider dual natures within a single entity, questioning societal norms about gender and the human body.
In contrast, Louise Bourgeois’s Janus Fleuri introduces a modern contemplation of duality through personal and psychological introspection.
Created in 1968, this bronze sculpture, which Bourgeois described as a self-portrait, features two phalluses joined back-to-back and was inspired by the Roman deity Janus, whose simultaneous gaze into the future and the past represents the complexity of temporal and psychological dualities. The central seam mirrors female genitalia, emphasizing the interchangeability of human anatomy. Suspended and able to rotate, the sculpture challenges the static nature of traditional sculpture and underscores the fluid boundaries
of identity and existence.

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