bathing suits

I use swimwear as a surrogate for the female body to expose vulnerabilities. I print thin layers of oil-based ink onto handmade Japanese papers, which are then sewn together to create my paper bathing suits. These impractical paper suits reference swimwear from the early 20th century when modesty required more of the female figure to be covered. They speak about presence and absence while blurring the line between a bathing suit and an underdress, skin and clothing. 

Social conventions and context play a significant role in what shape this “uniform” takes when one is in or around water. I am drawn to how swim­wear can talk about the space between protection & exposure. And I am fascinated by how swimsuits reflect shifting personal, cultural, or generational attitudes toward the body. This work challenges the perception of our own body as well as how we are viewed by others.