The thesis culminates in a video experience that weaves a narrative of womanhood with a peek at the laborious craft behind the thesis installation.
Video edited, directed & narrated by Valeria Mazzei
The thesis is focused on my family’s matriarchal history as a lens to examine how these forces shape identity, both historically and in the present day.
With my grandfather’s passing, we rediscovered a collection of photographs from the 1920s to 1980s, compiled by my grandmother.
This precious memory book became my starting point for piecing together my maternal family history.
Oral stories ➳ Document ➳ Preserve ➳ Collect ➳ Scan ➳ Print ➳ Oral stories ➳ Document ➳ Preserve ➳ Collect ➳ Scan ➳ Print ➳
I call my paper-making experience “Labour of Love”. An exhausting, but rewarding process dedicated to the creation of a cotton blend paper batch, enriched by Alpaca threads.
The embedded threads inside the paper create internal veins that reach the borders and flow externally.
“Skin to Skin”, the essence of love, the intimacy of motherhood.
It reflects in the tactile emotional connection I deeply feel in my creative work.
My art feels alive through the use of organic materials.
Hand-stitching the documented stories & feelings behind the photographs became a testament to womanhood through my family history.
A tribute to women’s resilience and courage.