Faculty of Art

Cross-Disciplinary Art: Life Studies

Olivia Pare

Heirloom

A crocheted textile is suspended on a rectangular frame. Mood stabilizers (lamotrigine) are beaded onto the fabric and silicone made to look like human skin is present.

“The aim of this work is to address the issues that occur within my family, specifically those which originate from my maternal lineage. My Great-Grandmother worked avidly with textiles, sewing quilts, making clothing, knitting and many others, and this was passed down for generations even to myself. As an artform historically attributed to women and specific to my mother’s side of the family, I used crochet as one of the main processes for this work. Textiles, especially homemade quilts, handkerchiefs, tablecloths etc. in my case, considered to be heirloom items are indicative of inheritance. A common theme in my matriline is the heredity of mental health disorders, communicated by the presence of crocheted elements beaded with mood stabilizers. Two different stereotypes are simultaneously addressed here: the “emotional” and “hysterical” female cliché has, in my family, historically resulted in the dismissal and denial of diagnoses and as such, the mismanagement or refusal of treatment altogether. Additionally, the comfort of maternal figures is challenged. While nurturing at times, the maternal for me has been marked by mental health struggles, rejection and mortality. So my internal conflict with these love/hate relationships is portrayed here through the contrast between delicate, traditional textile works and more contemporary, abject bodily imagery. These stereotypes are clearly framed, being suspended in a boxy wooden structure to communicate the forcing of women and of the female experience by society into preconceived and banal expectations.”