Hacking the Flesh: gh0re.grl on Body Anarchy, Wearable Skin, and the Future of Modification
the world is obsessed with perfection, gh0re.grl is more interested in disruption. A self-proclaimed “flesh freak,” she operates at the bleeding edge of body modification—where piercing meets performance, where wearables extend beyond fabric and into skin, where rebellion is stitched directly into the flesh. Her work isn’t just about adornment; it’s about autonomy. It’s about pushing the boundaries of what a body can be, reclaiming it as both a site of resistance and transformation.
Shot through the lens of @ryutnieyspears, this editorial captures the raw, visceral essence of her vision—where metal meets meat, where the body becomes both a weapon and a canvas. In this interview, gh0re.grl speaks on piercing as a radical act, the commercialization of body mod, and why the future of self-expression is more than just aesthetic—it’s political, intentional, and, above all, uncontrollable.
Can you tell us who you are, what you do, and where you call home?
Hey GUSH! I'm Izzy, better known as Gh0re.grl. I'm a self-proclaimed flesh freak who uses piercings, skin wearables, and creative direction to bring my fantasies to life! I'm originally from the UK but currently live in Berlin.
What's your earliest memory of being drawn to body modification or wearable art?
The idea of the 'fantasy body' has always been an obsession of mine. My thoughts on this have shifted over time. When I was young, my visions were very socialized, but over time they became subverted, perverted, rebellious. A deep fascination with 'body modification' and all it encompasses has always accompanied this obsession, as it can allow such autonomy and even rebellion through the form.
My love for play piercing specifically came a little later in life. My amazing friend Vesper was experimenting with needle play and asked me if I'd like to try. This experience filled me with such euphoria and inspiration that it kickstarted my deep dive into piercing and the creative potential of such practices.
Body modification has deep roots in countercultures but is becoming more commercialized. Do you think it's losing its edge, or is it evolving?
This is a great question because I’ve been talking about this a lot recently! Body modification has long been rooted in counterculture, a symbol of resistance, identity, and self-determination. But as it becomes more mainstream, we're seeing a shift—both in how it’s practiced and how it’s perceived. Most subcultures have also been diluted, reducing them to mere aesthetics/trends. However, I don’t believe it signals the end of body modification as a transformative force. Instead, it presents an opportunity to evolve.
Currently, I’m working on new ideas to evolve my practice and bring a new approach to modification fitting for our new world environment (and rebelling against it). I won’t spill my ideas, but I’m currently applying for funding to develop functional modifications that merge biotechnology with aesthetic design. My goal is to push beyond ornamentation and create adaptive, autonomous bodies that reflect and engage with the technological age we’re living in. In many ways, this is a rebellion against the passive commercialization of modification, reclaiming it as a tool for both individual agency and collective progress. I want body anarchy and autonomy for the marginalized!
Do you see your piercings and skin wearables as an extension of identity, rebellion, or something more intimate?
Through the ‘second skin’ wearables, I hope to extend the reach of body modification past the flesh and imagine possibilities for the form that are not yet achievable (like gills, animal textures, etc). This is a fantastical and often theriomorphic extension of identity, which I love! With my piercing work, I hope to combine these elements of fantasy with the real-life power, autonomy, and rebellion it takes to create these large-scale works. It is a feat of the flesh, of free will, and a rebellion against pre-existing notions of how we should experience our bodies.
If you could create a skin wearable, do play piercing, or plan a shoot for any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would love the opportunity to work with / learn from Steve Howarth and Orlan. Both are pioneers in their approaches and deeply inspirational to me. I would love to pick their brains if they'd let me!
What's a piece you've made that carries the most emotional weight for you?
Personally, my favorite piece I’ve made has to be my collaborative project with Joe George and Mutant Birth. I have really deep love for these two, and we created something truly unique together in the early hours in the morning, on my last night in the US, fueled by nothing but Adderall, a Twilight marathon, and sheer willpower. This time in my life was particularly tough for me, and being able to share these moments of joy, determination, and chaos with special people helped me escape my turbulent realities. I’m so grateful for them and for the opportunity. Together we created functional pierced circuitry, the first-ever pierced ‘cyborg’ mods that successfully and safely maintained sub-dermal electric currents.
If your art could leave one lasting feeling or message with people, what would you want that to be?
I want my art to leave people with the understanding that the body is more than just a tool for self-expression—it is our reality. It shapes how we are perceived, how we are treated, and both the limits and possibilities of our experiences. Because of this, the body is not just something to be adorned or performed—it is something to be wielded. It is a means of resistance, of solidarity, of transformation.
We have the power to redefine our realities by redefining our bodies. And in the world we live in today, that cannot be a purely aesthetic pursuit. It must be political. It must be intentional and it must be used!
