ARTIST STATEMENT
The corset, a garment that historically aimed to restrict and reform the female body, was made as a form of rebellion against biblical depictions of women. The gory wound reveals the inner pain of the constricted woman, in contrast with delicate embroidered biblical scenes. However, the scenes do not solely intend to ridicule the Bible; instead, they reveal the heroic origins of iconic Biblical women, and critique their historical misrepresentations as purveyors of female shame. Within the book, a complimentary depiction of Baroque and Regency-era fashion slowly reveals a hidden wound, as layers of social stigma disguise an inner turmoil.
ARTWORK PROCESS
A plain corset was constructed from a pattern and painted into with washes of watercolour. Abstracted biblical scenes were embroidered onto the corset, with intricate beading that adds a sense of opulence and intricacy. The scenes were both sewn directly onto the corset and on separate patches, creating visually interesting textural effects. The paper doll frames were painted with watercolour and attached with wires into cardboard frames, which were wrapped with a collage of book pages and colourful napkins. The pages were sewn together with traditional bookbinding techniques, and the covers feature a contemporary manipulation of traditional quilting techniques.
