Ana Khundadze

Gauzy Bows

My installation "Gauzy Bows" explores the nuanced political and social dimensions of childhood identity and conformity within the context of socialist societies, specifically the Soviet Union. Drawing inspiration from the historical significance of hair bows as symbols of ideological conformity and national prosperity, I have casted 10 aluminum bows in aluminum, one with the inscription of the word "bow" in Georgian language. By subverting the traditional purpose of hair bows as part of school uniforms and displaying them upside down, I aim to evoke a sense of defiance and challenge to the power and conformity, reflecting on the complex interplay between individual identity, societal expectations, and political agency inherent in childhood experiences under the communist regime.