Plastic surgeons are reporting that patients are coming to them with selfies of themselves edited using the filters on Snapchat or Instagram and asking to look more like the retouched photo.

Researchers at the Boston medical centre have authored an article in the journal JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, which labels the trend “Snapchat dysmorphia” and argues that filters on apps are having a disastrous impact on people’s self- esteem.

Snapchat comes with a range of filters that immediately distort photos using artificial intelligence. They can make skin appear smoother, lashes look longer and bone structure appear more angular.

The prolification of cosmetic salons on every high street means access to boxtox and fillers are becoming normalised like getting your hair or nails done. Targeting women in their 20s and 30s.

I gave a pig head to a plastic surgeon and asked him to change it into Paris Hilton. The original influencer. The sound is a real recording of someone discussing a procedure with a plastic surgeon.

I was part of a group show in Malmo, Sweden
A building was about to be demolished so 20 artists took over 20 rooms.
We lived and worked in our spaces for a week.
The exhibition was at the end of that week.
I wanted to create a participatory installation, something that would make people feel the shift in the different kinds of pleasure found in creating and destroying.

Of living with pain, and the pleasure of a single gigantic instant.
Using clay, participants were asked to visualise the person who caused them pain in their life. Sculpt a likeness.

And then punch it in the face.... or smash, karate chop, flatten.
I recorded the conversation as they were being made.
The ambition for the project grew as people participated from all ages and backgrounds shared very heart-felt and surprising stories. I didn’t expect it to be so popular. Swedes to be so open.

I have just fired and glazed the 100kgs of destroyed clay artefacts from that intense 10 hour session and hope to continue the project in different cities around the world.

Here are the stories from Malmo...