creative identity / 2019
a personal project about the unconsciously learned behaviour adapted from parents and society through early childhood and teenage years, that make normal interpersonal interactions almost impossible.
depicting social anxiety, a long term eating disorder and self-imposed limitations;
this project is an act of freeing oneself of the personality traits that have been harmful.
symbolized by shoes that are too big; following footsteps and trying on mum’s shoes;
using original DDR blankets for garmentmaking to visualize the act of wrapping a child in parent’s beliefs
thus teaching them unhealthy behavioural patterns along the way.
the floral pattern is not only typical for the DDR and children’s clothing, but simultaneously acts
as the metaphora of someone growing and blooming with time. cotton wool unwrapped from the outer fabric, even though seeming to be soft and cushy, the interfacing left a stickiness to the surface that makes it unpleasant to wear, just like the unhealthy habits learned. original Wrangler jeans covered in paint,
creating a stiff pant leg that can stand on its own, even though the surface slowly cracks open, just like children when growing up. raw edges to visualize the vulnerabilty one has to face when growing as a person;
the patchwork technique and poppers to detach every piece as a symbol for keeping what’s good and letting go of what’s not serving one anymore. smocking as authentic fabric manipulation for children’s clothing during DDR times, as well as a typical dress silhouette for little girls. the knot gets tied in the authentic analogue shots and models that are childhood friends, embodying the insecurity, doubts and fear that were ubiquitous.
the short form 'u' instead of 'you' symbolizes the act of making oneself smaller than one actually is.
