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The Accretion series was created during the ID Pool Art Residency program at Porcelana Vista Alegre, Portugal, from October to December 2013, where I tried to incorporate, in the current research of my work, elements from the daily life of this factory. Porcelain decoration was the first element, perceived by the commom sense as belonging to the feminine universe, that I used in my works, overlapping it to the stereotypes of virility and masculinity.
These drawings were made over decals print proof sheets recovered from the sector of Vista Alegre factory that produces their decals, that are used in the decoration of porcelain pieces. These sheets are used repeatedly at random, and with the overlapping of the various print proofs, new and intricate patterns are created. Amid the results of the prints, I've drawn elements of the stereotyped masculine virile world, obtained from ancient bodybuilding manuals, from the 1930s to the 1950s.
My current work emerged from a reflection upon the toys that people give to their children, that, even if not intentionally, are used to define gender, sexual identity, personality, etc: dolls and domestic or sensitive activities for girls; balls, weapons, soldiers and more active and strength oriented games for boys.
My work operates on the overlap and conflict between the stereotypes of masculinity, and elements traditionally attributed to the female territory, particularly the decorative floral patterns of porcelain, fake plastic flowers and butterflies, Victorian scrapbooks and decoupage, lacework, and embroidery. With my production, I try to question the common sense that strength and fragility, virility and poetry, masculinity and vulnerability cannot coexist.
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