FIU BFA Thesis I: Ctrl + Alt + Del

Frayed Threads

Wooden tiles (23.5” x 23.5”), yarn, rope, white fabric, ( 33” x 143.2” ), 2 channel video 2D digital animation, HD Video, Silent, continuous loop, projectors, projector mounts, wire, foam, (dimensions variable), papier mâché, spray paint

Frayed Threads is an installation piece that reflects on the struggles of trichotillomania, a mental health disorder that causes the urge to pull out hair. The sculptural portion is representative of the action of pulling, with hands tugging at the fibers in the work. The long sheet symbolizes my own long hair, but the differing textures as well as the use of multiple loose strands dramatize the physical changes my hair has gone through as a result of pulling it out. Each hand is a right hand, as it is often done with the dominant hand. The animations projected onto the piece focus on the emotional aspects of the work, implementing symbols and actions that tackle shame, guilt, self-esteem, and loss of beauty. The process involved reflecting on both my past and present, using my emotions and experiences to create a variety of animations.