Do not let yourself be Captured by the likes of another
Although I haven’t named this piece I have a strong concept and feelings that I associate it with. When thinking about what to create I reflected of a dream I had as a child; it was about an octopus that was trying to capture me and involved an old drivers helmet. Growing up I always doubted myself and was told by others that I could not be what or who I wanted to be or that they were ashamed of me. Through these emotions, I learned that staying silent or not expressing my true emotions were better than being myself. Like a blanket, I wore this facade that eventually ended up trapping me and stopping me from trying to follow my heart. The concept of this piece is that comfort or familiarity can harm you and suffocate you without you knowing leaving you stuck and helpless. I will be creating my sculpture with clear PVC for the bubbles and the diver’s mask and using a compilation of finger knitting and machine knitting to create the net like a blanket. The piece can be worn as a performative garment or be hung in a tapestry-like state. I really want to make the net as large as I can because I feel it will be more impactful and illustrate how long I have felt I have been suppressing my own true self. I really want many people to be able to connect to this piece and understand how change and taking risks is a good thing and that they should not be afraid of it. You will never know you are being held back until you try.
Over the past month and a half on working on this piece, I have learned how much I appreciate the experience of creation. Although I feel that it is isn’t finished I do not think it will every be always being added too like the endings to my childhood dream.
