STAHLHEM 42

2021

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The Stahlhelm M42 comprises five horseshoe crabs, each with a single word embossed with sand on their surfaces. These words collectively form the sentence 'I am scared to grow.' This sentence implies the fear of transitioning from childhood to adulthood and being apprehensive about the associated changes. As the statement progresses, the letters and the size of the crab carrying each word become more prominent, intensifying the inference and inciting a growing sense of panic.

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The styling of the horseshoe crabs is a reference to the Stahlhelm M42, a symbol worn by German soldiers during World War II. This evokes a sense of pause, fear, and the presence of an enemy. The sand sticking to the crab is dark in color, emphasizing the individual words that make up the sentence 'I am scared to grow,' which are engraved in terror onto the crab's surface as if inscribed onto a metaphorical helmet. This imagery triggers an escalating feeling of fear, with the expanding words symbolizing the unease of leaving behind the familiar and reassuring

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STAHLHELM | 2021 | sand on horseshoe crabs | 50 x 10 in