"A lot of my work has to do with not allowing my characters to have an ego in a way that the stomach doesn't have an ego when it's wanting to throw up. It just does it"

In this quote, artist Matthew Barney is discussing his method to producing characters in his work. He explains that he purposefully prevents offering his characters an ego, or a sense of self-importance, comparable to how the stomach does not have an ego when it will vomit. This comparison recommends that Barney's characters are driven by instinct and natural impulses, instead of their own desires or egos. By eliminating the ego from his characters, Barney has the ability to explore more primal and raw feelings and actions, allowing for a deeper and more genuine representation of humanity.