I see flesh.
I see flesh. is an installation about self-reflection of my body dysmorphia as a queer individual. Body dysmorphic disorder is an obsessive mental illness that causes a person to focus on a perceived flaw in their appearance. The installation will use fiber-based sculptures to portray my feelings of disgust towards my breasts and the disconnect between the mind and body. Both of the soft sculptures are made from different shades of pantyhose, poly-fil, and twine. Pantyhose are typically used to create the illusion of perfectly smooth skin. I decided to used the material not as a perfector but as a representation of my flaws. By twisting and contorting the material in the first piece, I wanted to depict my confusing thoughts of comparing my queer gender identity to society’s standards and gender norms. In the second piece, I exaggerated my mental and physical feelings by showing the constriction I feel while wearing a bra and not being stuck within the restrictions of my natural body.