Q8 / 2nd year / Animation Major
Willem de Kooning Academy
made by Anna

Social
practice

Mending (Cultural Diversity)

In this project I wanted to mend my relationship with my body, specifically my feelings about my autoimmune disease 'Ulcerative Colitis'.
I've been in remission for more than 5 years now and it's is so easy to forget that I am never gonna be a 100% again. I act and plan as if nothing could stop me, which is great for a mindset, but what does it mean for my body?
In this project I enter a conversation again with the scar tissue I have but can not see. I wish I could associate it less with shame, pain and difficulty and instead understand it as my strength and a source for a new perspective.
I decided to create a garment which helps me visibly see the area of conflict and past battles with my immune system. I want to be reminded and become more at ease and replace ignorance and avoidance with gentle caring and attention.

Making an apron
from scratch

About the colitis

Finding visiblity

Embroidery research

Swiss mending

Pattern making

Final state of the project piece

"The body is the ultimate witness to love"
Ocean Vuong