Playing dress-up, 2026
Digital collage
Diptych: (2) 45,5 cm x 32 cm
Artist’s Statement
Playing dress-up explores the intricate web of traditional expectations and values passed down through generations in my family.
In the first piece, I depict myself as a child, playing dress-up with my mother and sister. The pervasive lace, symbolising the expectations of femininity, is deeply ingrained in my family members, while it merely begins to sprout from me, hinting at the early stages of conditioning. This image captures the innocence of childhood, where the weight of these expectations is yet to be fully realised.
The second collage shows a stark contrast, as I, now a young adult, wear the same dress, however, the lace, once a subtle presence, now flourishes and spirals around me, signifying my divergence from these expectations. This transformation serves as a visual representation of my journey, as I navigate and challenge the values that have been passed down.
Through these works, I aim to convey the complexities of identity formation within a familial context. The use of fabric (clothes, bedding, etc.), often hand-me-downs passed down to me from my family, serves as a metaphor for the inherited traditions and values that shape us. By manipulating and collaging these images, I illustrate the process of accepting, rejecting, and reinterpreting these influences to forge one’s own identity.
