A BEAUTIFUL SNARE (2021)
Through my research into garments, mending, and the material of lace, I became fixated on the etymology of the word:
LACE––early 13c. from Old French laz "a net, noose, string, cord, or snare,” from Vulgar Latin *lacium, a trapping and hunting term, probably from Italic base *laq- "to ensnare" (compare Latin lacere "to entice”).
I am interested in the way delicate fabrics such as lace have considerable strength to stretch and tug, enclosing the body in both comforting and discomforting ways. In the definition the relationship between the words entice and ensnare mimics the insidious aspects of performing femininity (and expectations that come with it). An inner conflict between yearning to be a delicate object of beauty and desire, while simultaneously wishing to not be objectified by or evaluated on those qualities.
The installation explores lace as a material that both seduces and entraps, luring bodies to wear it while simultaneously trapping those bodies in a patterned snare. I hope viewers are enticed by the sensory qualities of the piece, creating a spacial and tactile experience of being coaxed into a trap unawares.
