Chrysalis emerging

Fabric skins

Several years ago, in preparation for one of my 'skins' installations, I drew a concept sketch for a fabric skin, then had it fabricated by a seamstress. The womb-like skin membrane would allow someone to wear it and interact with it, going through various poses that evoked a struggle for birth, freedom and escape; the person could eventually exit the skin through a partial slit in the seam, shedding a now lifeless skin. This also evokes the notion of metamorphosis, not unlike the butterfly emerging from the chrysalis, or the chick from the egg.

A friend tried out the embryonic sac.

I'll be using the skin again in a future photo shoot with James, exploring the Ortus theme.