Stained Dress

This piece, inspired by Fran’s image of a pair of cupped hands holding a fish, explores nurture and protection.
 
Children’s toys offer protection, representing an imaginary friend, a kindred spirit or extension of the owner’s personality.  The dress, already stained with pen ink, was stitched over with red thread to mimic menstrual blood.
 
The dreams and aspirations of childhood are replaced with the reality of adulthood.  Low wages, job insecurity, extortionate rent and food banks, with little money left over for luxury items such as sanitary towels.
RG