Marble Pushup Bra
Medium: Carrrara Marble, bra fastenings, Organza, lace, plastic coat hanger.
Year: 2014
Exhibited at Artspost Gallery, Hamilton.
My recent body of work, Unwearable Art is an exploration of what women wear to be attractive and socially acceptable.
The work was inspired by Unveiled: 200 years of wedding fashion at Te Papa, I was surprised to see the tiny waists and use of corsets for even the most recent dresses. I began to research the negative health effects of extreme fashion especially corsets and high heels.
Marble Pushup Bra is a development of this concept. Presently it is a challenge to purchase a bra that is not a push up. There is social pressure to have high cleavage and be on display to be deemed to be attractive.
The bra is presented on a hanger as in retail outlets. The viewer is able to look down the front and into the inside of the bra.
A similar bra has been carved from New Zealand pounamu. I have also produced a wearable bra in pounamu that was accepted into the World of Wearable Art show in 2014.