The Fabric of Femininity, 2016

 

 

‘Feminine’ is defined as qualities which are “traditionally ascribed to women, as sensitivity or gentleness” or “delicacy and prettiness”. Today’s definition of femininity is not so clear cut. It is often confusing, full of dualisms and double-standards; it promises independence while reenforcing the patriarchal and oppressive structures from which it originated. 
 

This work attempts to induce a state of disequilibrium for the viewer. The textural landscape reveals disembodied body parts that emerge and appear to grow from the folds of material. A sense of tension is created between appreciation of the fabric’s beauty and the fear generated by these foreign objects. This unsettling notion is my visual interpretation of the trials faced by women and those who embody ‘feminine’ attributes.