Mask imperfections.

A series of dust masks with expanding growths engulfing them. This series combines 2 of my favourite materials and processes. The associations we have with these masks protecting us are challenged, and the clinical white confuses, repulses and fascinates. I'm finding the ideas of accumulation and build up are becoming more and more important in my work.

  

 

Combos, build up and development.

     

Boils & Bubbles.

                              

Go backwards to go forwards.

I always enjoy working with tights! Such versatile material, such suggestions of the body and femininity, so close to the skin. They've featured in various projects since I was 16 and now they're back.

I'm so happy with these experiments. The shapes and textures are truly ugly, yet satisfying and transfixing. These are more like live drawings on the wall at the moment, and it's easy to change the shapes and reconfigure this growth. People's reactions have been really important, as they have had the initial head-jerk of repulsion, followed by a close examination and a prod here and there. This feels like it could really go somewhere.

Subverted Protectors.

These fume masks are really evocative. They represent cleanliness and protection, but they hint at something invasive and dirty surrounding the wearer. As we breathe through them, we are infesting them with the bacteria from within our bodies, ruining their sterile state, yet this is part of the process that we don't address, as we are in denial about the sullied state of our own bodies.

They are also worn in times of epidemic and mass panic, a fairly futile defence mechanism that comforts us none the less.

The colour gradation of the buds adds something to the mask that the fabric balls one lacks. the change in colour suggests development and ripening.

The false nails on an insole was a quick play, to do with the build up of foot bacteria against the "pretty" false cover ups we use to distract. These ideas are really interesting me, and it makes me think about what funny beings we are sometimes. Humour is definitely important here.

New materials and going back to the body.

These tests are starting to excite me. I was floundering a bit. without any specific associations to the materials I was using, but in a tutorial it was discussed how the associations we have with a material, particularly those related to the body, inform on how we react to a piece as a whole. I'm trying to use evocative objects now, and work on building up and transforming them into something new, yet recognisable. I think rubbers and the like have great material properties, and have associations with the clean, the sterile and the wipeable.

These tests are bringing out great words such as spreading, stretching, sprouting, bulging, bursting. These kind of verbs are key to achieving the uncomfortable biological/living feel I'm going for.