Artist Statement – also included in above
In this piece, I created a dinner plate, appetizer plate, and teacup out of shapewear pantyhose. To me stockings are an iconic piece because people have been wearing them for hundreds of years; stockings are not just fashionable, but are a staple piece. Through using the craft discipline of ceramics I was able to mold the pantyhose into layers and shape them into plates. I choose to do ceramics because I wanted to create something completely opposite of the gauzy, light iconic piece I picked. I pondered how to create them, and decided to first soak the stockings in a mixture of glue and water. Then I laid the stocking over plates and continued to build layers for structure. After this step I wanted them to be more 3 dimensional so I cut out the bottom of the plate from the sides and repasted them with a piece of the gusset stocking. When thinking about all the colors to use I chose a tan/ beige color because they mimic the color of terracotta clay. The idea of 60’s inspired plates came into action because pantyhose came into fashion in the 60’s. Due to the rise of the miniskirt many women ditched their garter belts and girdles for pantyhose because of comfort and to make sure the belts or girdles were not visible due to the length. In the photographs above I wanted to continue with the 60’s styles theme, so the food present was a fruit jelly typically eaten for dessert in the 60’s, as was the makeup and attire that I wear.
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Shapewear has been a concept for centuries that is made to subject women. Behind corsets, girdles, garters, and pantyhose, rolls are tucked, and waists are squeezed to create the desired silhouette of the era. In this project, I experiment with two ideas: the voyeuristic ideals of eating, and the surrealist’s concept of creating a plate made out of pantyhose. I have created a 60’s inspired table set that includes a dinner plate, appetizer plate, and teacup made out of shapewear tights hoping to bring attention to our society’s relationship with the restrictions put on women and the exclusive ideal which is what a woman’s body should look like.
