Slugs Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

I did a series of monoprints to represent the concept of identity construction, they are abstract figures which I individually sewed onto, the thread for me represented the idea of building or adding to identity. The monoprints were created on found fabric because I like the way the material absorbed the ink like the way we absorb everything around us to form our identity.

Raiding Grannys Photo Albums

Memories we have of people and places we have experienced in our lives play an important role in shaping who we are. I asked my granny and grandad to pick out a few of their favourite photos or ones which have vivid memories for them and I created some silk screen prints of these.

I have quotes to go with these images which I hope to incorporate later into the prints maybe using embroidery or silkscreen in a different colour over them. I decided to use fabric as my printing material again to play on the idea of comfort or security. These are a few of the prints.

I began to look at how our early lives and identify how childhood experiences reflect and influence a persons identity. Teddy bears and stuffed toys seem to be an important and reoccurring element when discussing or thinking about childhood for myself and also for others. Teddy bears and dolls are associated with feelings of comfort and security in most childhood memories and we retain this mental association throughout our adult lives. I began a sketchbook to convey this concept where I drew line drawings of children holding teddy’s, stuffed animals and blankets which were embroidered onto the page. On the back of the pages my terrible sewing skills added to the concept as over time these objects and also the memories of these objects become frayed and tattered.

reuse reuse reuse

So I had taken some photos on a film camera which I posted before but I didn't put them to much use so I decided to incorporate them into this project. The photos all included people with body art and body modifications like tattoos and piercings which has a lot to do with identity and a way of self-expression.

I chose this photo because I thought the tattoo was interesting and I liked the atmosphere portrayed in the photo. The face is covered questioning who the person is the only giveaway to the persons identity being the tattoo which is a means of self expression. 

Identity Construction

For the self directed project I decided to explore the idea of identity and identity construction. The shaping, texture and colours of our personalities through time and growth. I am looking at how we are constantly building and adding to our identity throughout our lives.