Meaning: The quote you've provided is from the artist Matthew Barney, and it offers a fascinating insight into his conceptualization of his work. In this quote, Barney seems to be describing his artistic projects as a metaphorical digestive system, one that operates not on the basis of hunger, but rather on desire. This quote sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of Barney's artistic vision, and it invites us to consider the ways in which desire, consumption, and production intersect in the realm of art.

When Barney refers to his project as a "sexually driven digestive system," he is likely drawing attention to the ways in which his work engages with themes of bodily processes, transformation, and the interplay between the physical and the psychological. By likening his project to a digestive system, he may be suggesting that his art functions as a mechanism for taking in, processing, and assimilating various influences, experiences, and ideas, and then producing something new and distinct as a result.

Furthermore, the notion that his project is "desire driven, rather than driven by hunger" is particularly intriguing. It suggests that Barney's creative process is rooted in the realm of the emotional and the libidinal, rather than being solely focused on the fulfillment of basic needs. This distinction is significant, as it implies that Barney's art is driven by a more nuanced and complex set of motivations, including passion, longing, and the pursuit of sensory and emotional experiences.

Barney's use of the terms "consumer and producer of matter" further underscores the idea that his art operates as a transformative force, one that not only consumes external stimuli but also generates new forms and meanings. This characterization aligns with the way in which Barney's work often involves elaborate processes of creation and destruction, as well as the manipulation of physical materials and the human body.

It's also worth noting that Barney's reference to his project as a "sexually driven digestive system" hints at the deeply embodied nature of his art. By invoking the language of sexuality and the body, Barney foregrounds the visceral and corporeal dimensions of his work, suggesting that his artistic practice is intimately entwined with questions of physicality, desire, and the boundaries of the self.

In sum, this quote offers a window into Matthew Barney's artistic philosophy, revealing his preoccupation with the intermingling of desire, consumption, and creation within the realm of art. By framing his project as a "sexually driven digestive system," Barney prompts us to consider the ways in which art can serve as a site for the processing and expression of the most primal and powerful human instincts. This quote invites us to delve deeper into the richly layered world of Barney's art, where the boundaries between the psychological, the physical, and the symbolic blur and converge in mesmerizing ways.

Overall, Barney's quote provides a thought-provoking glimpse into the intricate and enigmatic landscape of his artistic practice, inviting us to contemplate the ways in which desire and bodily processes shape the creation and reception of art.