the skin we're in
We all have bodies. They are messy, ugly, and inconvenient, yet they can be a source of beauty and inspiration. Often, people are at odds with these beautiful but tumultuous vessels, secretly hating the skin in which they exist. This dysmorphia has become a prevalent disorder, finding its place as a topic of discussion in many social media circles. Nonetheless, social media encourages wearing masks to cover insecurities while maintaining what appears to be the perfect relationship between one’s mind and body.
This body of work highlights struggling with body dysmorphia. Those that struggle with body dysmorphia often suffer in silence as much of the disorder is internal dialogue that goes unnoticed. These works are rooted in my own struggles with body dysmorphia as well as the lives of several others. This body of work is the point of initiation of communication and de-stigmatization of body dysmorphia by means of conversation and education.
The quilt acts as a personification of the facade that we as humans are expected to wear. It covers the things we deem as flaws hidden from the view of society. Each of the patchwork squares provides just a small window into the lives of several individuals that suffer from body dysmorphia. Each of these individuals were asked to write two letters to themselves, one to point out all of the things they dislike about themselves and one to provide a place for forgiveness for themselves. These letters are examples of the thoughts that go unheard and unseen in the minds of those that suffer from body dysmorphia. They are recorded in the book that is the second part to this series.