(‘Corset’, ‘Lift’, and ‘The Eyes are the Nipples of the Face’).
Aspects of both modern and historical women’s underwear influence the construction of these ‘Face-Bras’: from corsetry, hosiery, stretch-lace, to hooks and eyes, and dainty detailing. These masks combine aspects of body-manipulation garments, with suggestions of plastic surgery, to consider in a playful way the absurdity of extreme beauty standards for women, from the past to the modern day.
During the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns I focussed on small-scale projects using whatever materials I was easily able to access. I scavenged fabrics for the ‘Face-Bras’ from charity shops, friends, and my own worn-out items of clothing. Sewing each bead by hand, and carefully constructing the masks to fit my own face, the slow and considered process of creating these pieces allowed me to reflect on my own associations with femininity and female sexuality at the time, as a young woman in a world of social media, internet p*rn and online dating. The resulting masks combine humour, beauty, sexuality, and discomfort in a way that continues to feed into my current practice.
'Lift' (2020), up-cycled underwear and beads.
'Face Corsetry' (2020), up-cycled underwear, hosiery and beads, handmade applique.
'The Eyes Are The Nipples of The Face', (2020), up-cycled underwear, beads, wire, ribbon, handmade appliques.
