Stream Costume
costume; textile, sillicone fish bait, 2022
The costume is an attempt to recreate a childhood desire to be a stream resulting from a fascination with mountain creeks. Growing up in a mountain village from an early age, I felt a strong connection to its landscape, which influenced my development and daily activities. I had a special fondness for streams flowing down from the mountains, with sparkling and swiftly flowing water.
My fascination with water needed materialization, so being already in elementary school on the occasion of the school carnival ball, I really wanted to dress up as a stream. Unfortunately, this did not happen, my request was considered too abstract by the adults and after discussions I was dressed as a princess. Practically all the girls at the time were dressed similarly to me. About 20 years after this event, I decided to sew myself a stream costume, and fulfill my childhood desire. I sewed the costume by hand for my size.
The work is an attempt to return to a child’s perception of the world, not yet formed by cultural requirements, where there is no division between “culture” and “nature.” The very impersonation of the stream and the wish to perform it is, in my understanding, a desire to get closer and more deeply acquainted with non-human actors. At the same time, the whole story associated with the costume is personal, and making the costume was undoubtedly emancipatory, involving the reclaiming of history and memories.
Photos Piotr Blajerski
costume; textile, sillicone fish bait, 2022
The costume is an attempt to recreate a childhood desire to be a stream resulting from a fascination with mountain creeks. Growing up in a mountain village from an early age, I felt a strong connection to its landscape, which influenced my development and daily activities. I had a special fondness for streams flowing down from the mountains, with sparkling and swiftly flowing water.
My fascination with water needed materialization, so being already in elementary school on the occasion of the school carnival ball, I really wanted to dress up as a stream. Unfortunately, this did not happen, my request was considered too abstract by the adults and after discussions I was dressed as a princess. Practically all the girls at the time were dressed similarly to me. About 20 years after this event, I decided to sew myself a stream costume, and fulfill my childhood desire. I sewed the costume by hand for my size.
The work is an attempt to return to a child’s perception of the world, not yet formed by cultural requirements, where there is no division between “culture” and “nature.” The very impersonation of the stream and the wish to perform it is, in my understanding, a desire to get closer and more deeply acquainted with non-human actors. At the same time, the whole story associated with the costume is personal, and making the costume was undoubtedly emancipatory, involving the reclaiming of history and memories.
Photos Piotr Blajerski