Cotton, fibre, fill, bra

This “swimsuit” was part of my final BFA project. I wanted to create a piece that had a very striking silhouette and engaged the viewer with unusual shapes and texture. After researching different sea creatures I was inspired by the long-spined black sea urchin. The urchin’s actual shape is small but ends up having a much larger presence due to the spines, thus appearing to have a large shape. I wanted to use this idea to create a silhouette with more presence than actual space used. The urchin spines are the guard and protection against the wearer. Beauty can be appreciated without over consuming and destroying the object of perception. I created patterns for two sizes of cones. The cones were machine sewed, stuffed with fiberfill and hand sewed together. The cones were then sewn to a bra, to provide further structure.

Thread, embroidery floss, steel, paint, goldleaf

Considering emotional power as it relates to the physical body is an access point for me in this work. The preciousness of vulnerability is identified and then reinforced with strength and security. The possessive power of the scopophilic gaze, or obtaining sexual pleasure from seeing one nude, seduces the viewer and then threatens with the equally destructive power of the evil eye. Empowering the female wearer of this piece to capture the gaze, take possession and then retaliate. The crossing diagonals in the front and back of the body reference the protective power of the diagonal in amulet history as well as Aphrodite’s kestos in Greek Mythology. The act of using thread is a very conscious choice, referencing women specifically. My intention is to reclaim fiber and women’s work, as something that is quiet, meek and vulnerable and transform it into a powerful, dangerous and threatening material.